desirest no more good name repute or honour than Christ will afford thee or in case of death dost thou like Stephen resign up thy soul to Christ dost thou see death conquered in the resurrection of Christ dost thou look beyond death dost thou over-eye all things betwixt thee and glory O the sweet of this life of faith on the Son of God! if thou knowest what this means then mayst thou assure thy self of thy vivification 3. True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle of hope of glory Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.3 4. which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you By Christs resurrection we have a lively hope for our resurrection unto glory is not Christ our head and if he be risen to glory John 18.22 shall not his members follow after him certainly there is but one life one Spirit one glory of Christ and his members The glory which thou gavest me I have given unto them said Christ The soul that is vivified hath a lively hope of glory on several grounds As 1. Because of the promises of glory set down in the word now on these promises hope fastens her anchor if Christ hath promised how should I but maintain lively hope 2. Because of the first-fruits of the Spirit there are sometimes fore tasts of the glory drops of heaven poured into a soul whence it comfortably concludes if I have the earnest and first-fruits surely in his time Jesus Christ will give the harvest 3. Because of Christs resurrection unto glory now he rose as a common Person and he went up into heaven as a common Person whence hope is lively saying why should I doubt or despair seeing I am quickened together with Christ Eph. 2.5 6. and raised up together with Christ and am made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places Try O my soul by this sign Art thou lively in the hope of glory doth thy heart leap and rejoyce within at a thought of thy inheritance in heaven in a lively fountain the waters thereof will leap and sparkle so if thy hope be lively thou wilt have living joys living speeches living delights amidst all thy afflictions thou wilt say these will not endure for ever I my self shall away ere long Glory will come at last O the sweet of this life of hope if thou feelest these stirrings it is an argument of thy vivification 4. True vivification acts all its dutyes upon a new principle of love to Christ men not enlivened by Jesus Christ may do much and go far in outward service yea they may come to sufferings and yet without love to Christ all is lost all comes to nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 Though I speak with tongues of men and Angels though I have the gift of Prophesie and understand all mysteries and all knowledg though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor Ver. 2.3 and though I give my body to be burnt and have not love it profiteth me nothing All the rest may be from the flesh and for the flesh and fleshly ends but a true Gospel-love is from Christ and tends to the Glory of Christ For Love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God 1 John 4.7 But how may we know that all our actings are out of love to Jesus Christ I answer 1. If we act by the rule of Christ If ye love me keep my commandements He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them 1 John 14.15 21.23 24. he it is that loveth me If any man love me he will keep my commandements He that loves Christ he will look upon every act every service every performance whether it be according to the rule of Christ and then on he goes with it 2. If we act to the honour of Christ We may pray and hear and preach and act self more then the honour of Jesus Christ whiles Christ shewed miracles and fed his followers to the full they cryed up Jesus and none like Jesus but when Christ was plain with them ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves John 6.26 Ver. 66. and were filled when he pressed sincerity upon them and preparation for sufferings from that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him It s no news for men to fall off when their ends fail only they that love Christ look not at these outward things in respect of the honour of Jesus Christ and hence it is that in all their actings they will carry on the design of the Father in advancing the honour of the Son whatever it cost them O my soul apply this to thy self if thou livest the life of love if in all thy actings duties services thou art carried on with a principle of love to Jesus Christ it is a sure sign of thy vivification For the second question whether we increase and grow in our vivification we may discover it thus 1. We grow when we are led on to the exercise of new Graces this the Apostle calls adding of one Grace unto another 1 Pet. 1.5 6 7. add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg and to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity At first a Christian doth not exercise all Graces though habitually all Graces may be planted in him yet the exercise of them is not all at once but by degrees Thus the Church tells Christ at our Gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved Cant. 7.13 she had all manner of fruits which she had reserved for Christ new and old she had young converts and more seetled professors or she had new and old Graces as others she added Grace to Grace she was led on from the exercise of one Grace unto another new Grace As wicked men are led on from one sin to another and so grow worse and worse so godly men are led from one Grace to another Rom. 5.3 4. and so they increase knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope 2. We grow when we find new degrees of the same Grace added as when love grows more fervent when knowledg abounds and hath a larger apprehension of spiritual things when faith goes on from mans casting himself on Christ to find sweetness in Christ and so to plerophory or full assurance of faith when Godly sorrow proceeds from mourning for sin as contrary to Gods holiness to mourn for it is as contrary to him who loves us which usually follows after assurance when obedience enlargeth its bounds Rev.
in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of our life surely this is the end for which we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies sin death and hell Eph. 5.8 Ye were sometimes da â—nâ—ss during your abode in the grave of sin but now being risen ye are light in the Lord walk therefore as children of light Walk i.e. bestir your selves in the works of God Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee When God doth let the Sun of Righteousness arise Isa 60.1 it is fit we should be about the business of our souls We see that the night is dedicated to rest and therefore God that doth order all things sweetly he draws a curtain of darkness about us as which is friendly to rest like a Nurse that when she will have her little one sleep she casts a cloath over the face and hides the light every way but when this natural Sun ariseth then men go out to their work so must we though in the darkness of the night we shorted in sin yet now we must bestir our selves seeing the Sun of the spiritual world is risen over us And yet when all is done let us not think that our vivification in this life will be wholly perfect as it is with our mortification in the best it is but an imperfect work so it is with our vivification it is only gradual and never perfected till grace be swallowed up of glory Only let us ever be in the use of the means and let us endeavour a further renovation of the new man adding one grace to another To faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience 2 Pet. 1 5 6. Rom. 7.1 to patience godliness c. till we perfect holiness in the fear of God till we shine with those Saints in glory at perfect day Thus far we have Looked on Jesus as our Jesus in his resurrection and during the time of his abode on earth Our next work is to Look on Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his ascension into Heaven and in his session at God's right hand and in his mission of the holy Spirit LOOKING UNTO JESUS In his Ascension Session and Mission of his Spirit The Eight Book PART VIII CHAP. I. Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God SECT I. Of Christ's Ascension and of the manner how THUS far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us untill the day in which he was taken up Acts 1.2 That which immediately follows is his Ascension Session at God's right hand and Mission of his holy Spirit in prosecution of which as in the former I shall first lay down the object and secondly direct you how to look upon it The object is threefold 1. He ascended into Heaven 2. He sate down at Gods right hand 3. He sent down the holy Ghost 1. For the Ascension of Christ this was a glorious design and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls In prosecution of this I shall shew first that he ascended 2. How he ascended 3. Whither he ascended 4. Why he ascended 1. That he ascended 1. The types prefigure it Then said the Lord to me Ezek. 44.2 3. this gate shall be shut it shall not be opened it is for the Prince the Prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate and shall go out by the way of the same As the gate of the Holy of Holies was shut against every man but the High Priest so was that gate of Heaven shut against all so that none could enter in by their own vertue and efficacy but only our Prince and great high Priest the Lord Jesus Christ indeed he hath opened it for us and entred into it in our place and stead Whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech 2. The Prophets forsaw it Heb. 6.20 Dan. 7.13 14. I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of dayes Mark 16.19 Luke 24.31 and they brought him near before him and there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdom 3. The Evangelists relate it He was received up into heaven He was carried up into heaven 4. The eleven witness it For while they beheld he was taken up Acts 1.9 Acts 1.10 11. and a cloud received him out of their sight 5. The holy Angels speak it For while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Eph. 4.8 10. 1 Pet. 3.22 6. The blessed Apostles in their several Epistles ratifie and confirm it When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 2. How he ascended The manner of his Ascension is discovered in these particulars 1. Luke 24.51 He ascended blessing his Apostles While he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven It is some comfort to Christ's Ministers that though the world hate them Christ doth bless them yea he parted with them in a way of blessing as Jacob leaving the world blessed his Sons so Christ leaving the world blessed his Apostles and all the faithful Ministers of Christ unto the end of the world Some add that in these Apostles not only Ministers but all the elect to the end of the world are blessed The Apostles were then considered as common persons receiving this blessing for all us and so those words uttered at the same time are usually interpreted Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world This was the last thing that Christ did on earth to shew that by his death he had redâ—emed us from the curse of the Law Eph. 1.3 and that now going to heaven he is able to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Acts 1.19 2. He ascended visibly in the view of the Apostles while they beheld he was taken up he was not suddenly snatched from them as Elija was nor secretly and privily taken away as Enoch was but in the presence of them all both his Apostles and Disciples he ascended up into Heaven but why not in the view of all the Jews that so they might know that he was risen again and
that he is both our justification and sanctification Physitians tell us that about the heart there is a film or skin like unto a purse wherein is contained clear water to cool the heat of the heart and therefore very probable it is that that very skin or pericardium was pierced through with the heart and thence came out those streams of blood and water O gates of Heaven O windows of Paradise O Palace of refuge O Tower of strength O Sanctuary of the Just O flourishing bed of the Spouse of Solomon methinks I see water and blood running out of his side more freshly than those golden streams which ran out of the garden of Eden and watered the whole world Here if I could stay I might lengthen my Doctrine during my life oh it were good to be here it were a large field and a blessed subject 4. About five which the Jews call the eleventh and the last hour of the day Christ was taken down and buried by Joseph and Nicodemus But enough I must not wear out your patience altogether Thus far we have propounded the blessed object of Christ's suffering and dying for us our next work is to direct you as formerly in the art or mystery how you are to look unto him in this respect CHAP. III. SECT I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation in his death 1. LEt us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation during his sufferings and death This is the high point which Paul was ever studying on and preaching on and pondering on For I determined not to know any thing among you 1 Cor. 2.2 save Jesus Christ and him crucified Christ crucified is the rarest piece of knowledge in the world the person of Christ is a matter of high speculation but Christ further considered as cloathed with his garments of blood is that knowledge which especially Paul pursues he esteems not reckons not determines not to make any profession of any other science or doctrine than the most necessary and only saving knowledge of Christ crucified O my soul how many dayes and months and years hast thou spent to attain some little measure of knowledge in the Arts and Tongues and Sciences and yet what a poor skill hast thou attained in respect of the many thousands of them that knew nothing at all of Jesus Christ and what if thou hadst reached out to a greater proficiency couldst thou have dived into the secrets of Nature couldst thou have excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East country and all the wisdom of Egypt 1 Kings 4.33 and the wisdom of Solomon who spake of beasts of fowls of fishes of all trees from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall yet without the saving knowledge of Christ crucified Christ suffering bleeding and dying all this had been nothing see Eccles 1.18 only that knowledge is worth the having which refers to Christ and above all that is the rarest piece of Christ's humiliation which holds him forth suffering for us and so freeing us from hell sufferings Come then and spend thy time for the future more fruitfully in reading learning knowing this one necessary thing Study Christ crucified in every piece and part O the precious truths and precious discoveries that a studying head and heart would hammer out here much hath been said but a thousand-thousand times more might yet be said we have given but a little scantling of that which Christ endured Volumes might be written till they were piled as high as heaven and yet all would not serve to make out the full discoveries of Jesus's sufferings Study therefore and study more but be sure thy study and thy knowledge be rather practical than speculative do not meerly beat thy brains to learn the history of Christ's death but the efficacy vertue and merit of it know what thou knowest in reference to thy self as if Jesus had been all the while carrying on the business of thy souls salvation as if thou hadst stood by and Christ had spoke to thee as sometimes to the women Weep not for me but for thy self thy sins caused my sufferings and my sufferings were for the abolition of thy sins SECT II. Of considering Jesus in that respect 2. LEt us consider Jesus carrying on this great work of our salvation during his sufferings and death Zach. 12.10 Heb. 12.2 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced saith the Prophet i.e. they shall consider me and accordingly is the Apostle looking unto Jesus or considering of Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy of our salvation set before him endured the cross and despised the shame Then indeed and in that act is the duty brought in it is good in all respects and under all considerations to look unto Jesus from first to last but above all this Text relates firstly to the time of his sufferings and hence it is that Luke calls Christ's passion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a theory or sight And all the people that came together to that sight Luke 23.48 smote their breasts and returned Not but that every passage of Christ is a theory or sight worthy our looking on or considering of Christ in his Fathers purpose and Christ in the promise and Christ in performance Christ in his birth and Christ in his life O how sweet what blessed objects are these to look upon but above all consider him saith the Apostle that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12.3 Ver. 2. Consider him who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame of all other parts acts or passages of Christ the holy Ghost hath only honoured Christ's passion his sufferings and his death with this name of theory and sight Why surely this is the theory ever most commended to our view and consideration O then let us look on this consider of this As in this manner 1. Consider him passing over the Brook Cedron it signifies the wrath of God and rage of men the first step of his passion is sharp and sore he cannot enter the door but first he must wade through cold waters on bare feet nor must he only wade through them but drink of them through many tribulations must he go that will purchase souls and through many tribulations must they go that will follow after him to the Kingdom of Glory Consider him entring into the Garden of Gethsemane in a garden Adam sinned and in this garden Christ must suffer that the same place which was the nest where sin was hatched might now be the child-bed of grace and mercy into this garden no sooner was he entred but he began to be agonized all his powers and passions within him were in conflict Consider O my soul how suddenly he is struck into a strange fear never was man so afraid of the torments of
2.16 and we abound more and more in the work of the Lord. I know thy works said Christ to the Church of Thyatyra I know thy works and the last to be more than the first 3. We grow when the fruits and duties we perform grow more ripe more spiritual and more to the honour of Christ it may be we pray not more nor longer than sometimes we used it may be our prayers have not more wit or memory than sometimes they had yet they are more savory more spiritual and more to Christ's honour than sometimes they were Now we must know that one short prayer put up in faith with a broken heart and ayming at the honour of Christ argues more of growth in grace than prayers of a day long and never so eloquent without the like qualifications In every duty we should look at their ends and ayms for if we debase our selves in the sense of our own vileness and emptiness and inability and if we aym at God's honour and power and praise and glory it is a good sign of growth we call this spiritual part of duty when it is from God and through God and to God 4. We grow when we are more rooted in Christ so the Apostle describes it Eph. 4.15 a growing up unto him in all things This is Scripture phrase growth of grace is usually expressed by growing into Christ but now in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ As if to grow in grace without him were nothing as indeed it is not 2 Pet. 3.18 Philosophers moral men and others may grow in vertues but not in Christ Come then search and try whether we are more rooted in Christ when a young plant is new set the roots are a small depth in the earth one may pull them up with his hand but as the tree shooteth up in height so it strikes the root deep and deeper downward that no force can move it so it is with us we have not for degree so firm and near a conjunction with Christ at our first union but the more we live with him like good trees spreading in the sight of all men and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness the more we come to root downwards by a more firm faith and firm confidence Our union is answerable to that which uniteth us now at the first faith is but weak like a smoaking wick or a poor bruised reed but whiles faith is drawing the Spirit away from Christ the more it exerciseth the more it is strengthened even as in babes their powers every day at first are feeble but the more they feed and exercise by so much the more they put forth their strength in all their operations time was that Peters faith was so weak that at the voice of a Damosel Peter was shaken but by walking while in Christ he was so rooted that neither threatnings whippings imprisonment conventings before great powers nor any other thing could shake him you may object if we are not at first rooted in Christ a weak faith may be quite overthrown we may then fall away true if we be not rooted in any manner but this we are at our first setting into Christ by faith only this I speak of is of an higher degree of rooting which doth not only shut out falling away but very shaking and tottering in a good measure surely this is not the state of every believer no no it is only the condition of such who have long walked in Christ and are grown in grace holiness vivification O my soul try now the growth of vivification by these few signs art thou led on to the exercises of new graces adding grace to grace dost thou find new degrees of the self same grace is thy love more hot thy faith more firm all thy boughs more laden and filled with the fruits of righteousness are all thy dutyes more spiritual are thy ends more raised to ayme at God to sanctifie him and to debase thy self art thou more rooted in Christ in all thy dutyes graces and gracious actings hast thou learnt habitual to say I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me dost thou interest Christ more and more in all thou dost dost thou know and affect Christ more and more Oh when would an ambitious courtier be weary of being graced by his Prince when would a worlding be weary of having the world come in upon him why shouldst thou O my soul be weary of insinuating thy self by faith and affection into Christ come scearch try it may be little winds have formerly shaken thee but so it is that insencibly and thou knowest not how thy root is struck lower and lower into Christ and now thou art not so soon shaken with every wind surely thy hope is well grounded thou hast a part in Christs resurrection it is thine even thine SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect 5. LEt us believe in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation for us in his resurrection This is one main article of our faith the third day he rose again from the dead and this now I propound as the object of our faith O let us believe it let us believe our part and interest in it And to that purpose let us look on Jesus as a common Person whatever consideration he passed under it was in our stead and in that respect we are to reckon our selves as sharers with him Scrupulous souls may object is it possible that Christ should rise and that I should rise with him and in him is it possible that Christ should dye as a common Person for my sins and that Christ should rise and by his resurrection should be justified as a common person in my room O the Mystery of this redemption without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness which is God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 justified in the Spirit it is a mystery beyond my fathoming that Christ who is God in the flesh should be justified in the Spirit for my justication that Christ should dye in my stead as a condemned man and when he had finished his work that he should rise again in my stead as a righteous Person These passages are past fathoming and beyond believing O what shall I do I find it hard very hard to believe this poynt Luke 24.26 Scrupulous souls throw not away your confidence ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his Glory was not satisfaction and justification payment of debt and discharge of bonds required of him and of necessity for us O believe and that I may perswade to purpose I shall lay down 1. Some directions and 2. Some encouragements of faith 1. For directions of faith in reference to Christ's resurrection observe these particulars 1. Faith must directly go to Christ 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh 3. Faith must go to Christ as God in
Jesus Christ Doctor Sibbs is clear that the special office of the ministry of Christ is to lay open Christ to hold up the tapistry to unfold the hidden misteries of Christ and therefore he exhorts that we should labour to be alwayes speaking somewhat about Christ or tending that way when we speak of the law let it drive us to Christ when of moral duties let them teach us to walk worthy of Christ Christ or some what tending to Christ should be our theme and mark to aime at Sibbs Cantic p. 428. And I may feelingly say it is the sweetest subject that ever was Preached on is it not as an ointment poured forth whose smell is so fragrant and whose savour is so sweet that therefore all the Virgins love him is it not comprehensive of all glory beauty excellency whether of things in Heaven or of things on Earth is it not a mystery sweet and deep surely Volumes are written of Jesus Christ there is line upon line Sermon upon Sermon Book upon Book and Tome upon Tome and yet such is the mystery as one speaks plainly that we are all but as yet at the first side of the single Catechism of Jesus Christ yea Solomon was but at What is his Name and I fear many of us know neither Name nor thing It is a worthy study to make further and further discoveries of this blessed Mystery and it were to be wished that all the Ministers of Christ would spend themselves in the spelling and reading and understanding of it Look as some great point doth require the abilities of many Scholars and all little enough when joyned together to make a good discovery thereof such is this high point this holy sacred glorious Mystery worthy of the pains of all the Learned and if they would all bring their notes together and add all their studies together which I have in some measure endeavoured in the following Treatise they should find still but a little of this Mystery known in comparison of what remains and is unknown only this they should know Quod difficily intellectu dilectabile inquisitu as Bernad said That which is hard to understand is delightful to be dived into and so I found it 2. For the act of looking unto Jesus as it is comprehensive of knowing desiring hoping believing loving so also of joying how then should I but be filled with joy unspeakable and glorious whilst I was studying writing and especially acting my Soul in the exercise of this Looking If there be any Duty on Earth resembling the Duty of the Saints in Heaven I dare say this is it Mr. Rutherford in his Epistle to Christ dying writeth thus An act of living in Christ and on Christ in the acts of seeing enjoying embracing loving resting on him is that noon-day Divinity and Theology of Beatifical Vision there is a general assembly of immediately illuminated Divines round about the Throne who study lecture preach praise Christ night and day Oh what rays what irradiations and dartings of intellectual fruition beholding enjoying living in him and fervour of loving come from that face that God-visage of the Lord God Almighty and of the Lamb that is in the midst of them And Oh what reflections and reachings forth of intellectual Vision embracing loving wondering are returning back to him again in a circle of Glory Now if this be the Saints Duty who are perfect in glory do not we imitate them and feel something of Heaven in our imitation in our looking also unto Jesus I write what in some measure I have felt and of which I hope to feel yet more and therefore whoever thou art that readest I beseech thee come warm thy heart at this blessed fire O come and smell the precious ointments of Jesus Christ O come and sit down under his shadow with great delight Oh that all men especially into whose hands this Book shall come would presently fall upon the practice of this Gospel-art of looking unto Jesus if herein they find nothing of Heaven my skill will fail me only let them pray that as they look to him so vertue may go out of him and fill their souls Reader One thing more I have to say to thee if thou wouldest know how to carry on this Duty constantly as thou dost thy morning and thy evening prayer it were not amiss if every day either morning or evening thou wouldst take some part of it at one time and some part of it at another time at least for some space of time together I know some that in a constant daily course carry on in secret those two necessary duties of meditation and prayer what the subject matter of their meditation is I am not very certain only our experience can tell us that be it heaven or be it hell be it sin or be it grace or be it what it will if we be in exercise of the self-same subject either constantly or frequently we are apt to grow remiss or cold or formal and the reason is one thing tires quickly unless that one be all now that is Christ for He is All Col. 3.11 if then but once a day thou wouldst make this Jesus Christ thy subject to know consider desire hope believe joy in call upon and conform unto in his several respects of plotting promising performing thy redemption in his Birth Life Death Resurrection Ascension Session Intercession and coming again and that one of these particulars might be thy one dayes exercise and so every day thou wouldest proceed from first to last in thus looking unto Jesus I suppose thou wouldst never tire thy self and why so O there is variety in this matter to be looked unto and there is variety in the manner of looking on it Ex. gr one day thou mightst act thy knowing of Jesus in carrying on the great work of thy salvation in his Eternity the next day thou mightest consider Jesus in that respect and the next day thou mightst desire after Jesus in that respect and the next day thou mightst hope in Jesus in that respect and so on till thou comest to the last day of the work which besides * I suppose the Reader will at least once read over the whole book and then for this constant dayly exercise during eighty one dayes in a year I leave the object in every period to be read or not read as he pleaseth unless it may in whole or in part conduce any thing to that one act of knowing Jesus in such or such a respect the object handled at large in every period in these very actings upon the object would in all amount to the number of eighty one dayes Now would not this variety delight It is the observation of Mr. Lockyer on Col. 1.16 that an holy soul cannot tire it self in the contemplation of Jesus how much less can it tire it self in Looking unto Jesus which is far more Comprehensive than contemplating of Jesus come try this Duty and be
by paying the ransom and price of our salvation the holy Ghost saveth by a particular applying of that ransom unto men Now whereas the Son pays the price of our redemption and not the Father nor the holy Ghost therefore in this special respect he is called our Saviour our Jesus and none but he This object though contained in a word is very comprehensive herein is set forth to our view the offices of Christ the two Natures of Christ the qualities of Christ the excellencies of Christ O what variety of sweet matter is in Jesus he hath in him all the powders of the merchants an holy soul cannot tyre it self in viewing Jesus Cant. 3.6 we know one thing tyres quickly unless that one be all which so is Christ and none else he is all and in all all belonging to being and all belonging to well-being Col. 3.11 in things below Jesus some have this excellency and some have that but none have all and this withers contemplation at the root contemplation is soul recreation and recreation is kept up by variety but O what variety is in Jesus variety of time He is Alpha and Omega variety of beauty he is white and ruddy variety of quality he is a Lion and a Lamb a servant and a Son variety of the excellency in the world he is Man and God O where shall we begin in this view of Jesus Who shall declare his Generation or who shall count and reckon his Age All the Evangelists exhibit unto us the Saviour Esa 53.8 but every one of them in his particular method Mark describes not at all the genealogy of Jesus but begins his history at his Baptism Matthew searcheth out his original from Abraham Luke follows it backwards as far as Adam John passeth further upwards even to the Eternal Generation of this Word that was made flesh so they lead us to Jesus mounting up four several steps in the one we see him only among the men of his own time in the second he is seen in the Tent of Abraham in the third he is yet higher to wit in Adam and finally having traversed all ages through so many generations we come to contemplate him in the beginning in the bosom of the Father in that eternity in which he was with God before all worlds And there let us begin still Looking unto Jesus as he carries on the great work of our salvation from first to last from everlasting to everlasting SECT II. The main Doctrine and confirmation of it BUt for the foundation of our building take this Note Inward experimental looking unto Jesus such as stirs up affections in the heart Doctrine 2 and the effects thereof in our life it is an Ordinance of Christ a choice an high Gospel-ordinance Or thus Inward experimental knowing considering desiring hoping believing loving joying calling on Jesus and conforming to Jesus it is a complicate foulded compounded Ordinance of Jesus Christ I need not much to explain the Point you see here is an Ordinance or a Gospel-duty held forth many other Duties we have elsewhere described but this we have kept for this place and the rather for that this is a choice Duty a compounded Duty an high Gospel-ordinance No question but Watchfulness Self-trial Self-denial Experiences Evidences Meditation Life of Faith c. do well in their place and order yet as oars in a boat though it be carried with the tyde may help it to go faster it is Jesus lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent which strikes more soundly into the beholder than any other way Looking unto Jesus is that great Ordinance appointed by God for our most especial good How many souls have busied themselves in the use of other means and though in them Christ hath communicated some vertue to them yet because they did not trade more with him they had little in comparison such a one as deals immediately with Christ will do more in a day than another in a year and therefore I call it a choice a compleat a complicate an high Gospel-Ordinance Now what this Ordinance is the Text tells you it is a Looking unto Jesus 1. Jesus is the Object and Jesus †I ground this on all the Texts jointly as on Isa 45 22. Isa 65.1 Micha 7.7 Zach 12.10 Numb 21.8 John 3.15 Heb. 12.2 Phil. 3.20 2 Cor. 3.18 Mat 1.21 c. Isa 45.22 Isa 65.1 Psalm 25.15 Psalm 34 5. Heb. 12.3 as Jesus as he is our Saviour as he hath negotiated or shall yet negotiate in the great business of our salvation 2. Looking unto is the act but how it is such a Look as includes all these acts knowing considering desiring hoping believing loving joying enjoying of Jesus and conforming to Jesus It is such a look as stirs up affections in the heart and the effects thereof in our life it is such a look as leaves a quickening and enlivening upon the spirit it is such a look as works us into a warm affection raised resolution an holy and upright conversation Briefly it is an inward experimental Looking unto Jesus For confirmation of the point this was the Lords charge to the Gentiles of old Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth And I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name And according to this command was their practise Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord saith David and they looked unto him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed Thus in the Gospel after this command Looking unto Jesus it follows Consider him that hath endured such contradiction of sinners against himself And according to this command is the practise of Gospel-believers 2 Cor. 3 18. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Instead of the vail of Mosaical figures God hath now given to his Church the clear glass of the Gospel and hence all believers under the Gospel do by contemplative Faith behold Christ together with the glorious light of his mercy truth goodness and the rest of his Divine Attributes and by means thereof they are made like unto him in the glory of Holiness and in newness of life The reasons why we are thus to Look unto Jesus will be as so many motives which we shall reserve to an use of Exhortation but the reasons why this Looking unto Jesus is 1. An Ordinance 2. An Ordinance of Christ may be these 1. Why an Ordinance here is only this reason the will of the Lord Even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight Ordinances are certain impositions set forth by an external mandate of a Lawgiver having Authority to command It is the will of Christ to impose this Law on all the sons of men that they should Look up unto him and concerning this what have we to do to enquire
into the reason it is our Duty to obey and not to know of him why he commands if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was enough in Pythagoras his School to put the business past disputing amongst his Scholars I am sure it should be much more in Christs School we will therefore enquire no further reason for it 2. Why an Ordinance of Christ it is this because all spiritual Ordinances Laws Institutions do hold on Christ it is not in the liberty of man to erect any new spiritual Ordinance in the Church of Christ I will not deny but the power of man may come in to order such things as are not proper but rather common to the Church with other societies as to meet together in some place and at some time c. according to that rule Let all things be done decently and in order for this is not an institution 1 Cor. 14.42 but only the dictate of right reason But when it comes up to an Ordinance Law Institution i.e. when something more shall be put on the thing than nature hath put on it when by vertue of the institution there is conjoyned to it some kind of spiritual efficacy to work upon the soul this only holds on Christ Hence because in the preaching of the Word and in the administration of the Sacraments we expect a vertue a spiritual efficacy more than they have or can yeild in any natural way therefore we say these are Ordinances of Christ so because in Looking unto Jesus we expect a vertue a spiritual efficacy to go along together with it more than nature can give it therefore we call this an Ordinance and an Ordinance of Christ to distinguish it from all other Ordinances Rules Constitutions of men whatsoever SECT III. Vse of Reproof WEll then is inward experimental looking unto Jesus a choice an high Gospel-Ordinance Vse 1 how may this reprove thousands how many are there that mind not this Duty the truth is that as the whole world lies in wickedness 1 John 5.19 so the eyes of the whole world are misplaced there 's few that have a care of this choice of this high Gospel-Ordinance I shall therefore reprove both the ungodly and godly 1. For the ungodly not God nor Christ is in all their thoughts Alas Psal 10.4 they never heard of such a Duty as this they cannot tell what it means to Look unto Jesus Nor speak I only of poor Indians and other Savages of the unchristian world whose souls are over clouded with the blackest mists of irreligion that the Prince of darkness can possibly inwrap them in who came into the world not knowing wherefore and go out of the world not knowing whither an heavie case which cannot sufficiently be bewailed with tears of blood But I speak of such as live with in the Paradise of the Christian Church that have nothing to distinguish them from those Indian miscreants but an outward conformity outward formalities the charity of others and their own slight imaginations why alas these are they that the Lord complains of that they have eyes and see not Jer. 2 32. My people have forgotten me dayes without number they have negligently suffered me to be out of their minds and that for a long time You will say is there any such here Can I tax any of you that you should not Look up to Jesus are not your eyes towards Christ in your prayers praise soliloquies publick and private Duties Nay are not you now in the Duty whilest I am speaking and you hearing I answer however you may deem that you do this or that yet God reckons it as a thing not done in these respects 1. When it 's not done to purpose as if our looking to Christ makes us not like Christ a man may give a thousand glances every day towards Christ yet if there be no effectual impression upon the heart Christ takes it as if he had never looked towards him at all 2. When it 's done unwillingly Sometimes men think of Christ but they know not how to shun it the Lord breaks in upon their spirits whether they will or no whereas their own temper is to follow to pursue other objects thus you drop into our assemblies out of custome or fashion or for some sinister end and here is Christ lifted up upon the pole he is discovered in his beauties graces sweetnesses excellencies but when you see him you say he hath no forme nor comliness Isa 53.2 Isa 52.3 there is beauty that we should desire him Let no man deceive himself though he cast his eyes towards Heaven all the day long if he love not this work he doth nothing he Looks not at Jesus 3. When it 's not done according to the rule this is not to eat the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 said Paul to his Corinthians no question they did eat it but because it was not done after its due manner he saith this is not to eat the Lords Supper Many think of Christ and Look up to Jesus but because their thoughts are not holy awful and subjecting to the Spirit in no way proportionable to the goodness and glory of the Son of God they look loosely carelesly and carnally upon him he therefore reckons it as not done this is not to Look unto Jesus 4. When a man makes it not his course and trade to look unto Jesus A man may come unto a Carpenters house take up his tools do somthing at his work but this makes him not a Carpenter because it is not his trade The best Saints sin yet because it is not their trade and course 1 Iohn 5.18 they are said not to sin whosoever is born of God sinneth not And so ungodly men may look and muse and meditate and think of Christ but because this is not their course and trade they make it not their work to look to Christ they are therefore said not to look to him Why now consider you that plead that you are Christians that you mind Christ at this very instant that you are in the duty even whilst I am speaking of it and yet you neither do it to purpose nor willingly nor according to rule nor as it is your trade is it not with you Matth 7.22 as it is with them of whom Christ spake many will say to me at that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in they name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works they will plead at the last day as you plead now but for all that you know the answer I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Vers 23 Surely Christ will say to you one day I know you not I was a stranger to you upon earth I could not have an eye from you but when your lazie idle spirits pleased and now out of my sight I 'le never own you nor look upon
peace so long as thy lusts are so strong within thee and thy estrangements from the Prince of peace so great the soul that is without Jesus Christ is an enemy to the God of peace a stranger to the Covenant of peace uncapable of the Word of peace an Alien to the way of peace there is no peace to the wicked Isa 57.21 saith my God 6. Such a one is without acceptation with God the Father Christ onely is Gods beloved and therefore as Josephs brethren might not look him in the face unless they brought their brother Benjamin so cannot we look God in the face with any confidence or acceptance unless we bring Christ with us in the armes of our faith without Christ man is stubble and God is a consuming fire to destroy him man is a guilty malefactor and God a severe Judge to condemn him the whole of man without Jesus Christ is a very abomination in Gods presence 7. Such a one is without life he that hath not the Son hath not life saith John 1 John 5.12 Ephes 2.1 Christ lives not in that soul it is a dead soul dead in sins and trespasses As the dead see nothing of all that sweet and glorious light which the Sun casts forth upon them so the dead in sin have no comfortable apprehension of Christ though he shine in the Gospel more gloriously than the Sun at noon And as the dead know not any thing Eccles 9 5 so the dead in sin know nothing at all of the wisdom of Christ guiding them or of the holiness of Christ sanctifying them or of the fulness of Christ satisfying them or of the death of Christ mortifying their lusts or of the resurrection of Christ quickning their souls or of the dominion of Christ reigning in their hearts O what a misery is this All this you may say is true to a Christless soul but what evil to him that may have a title to Christ and yet minds not Christ makes not use of Christ doth not look unto Jesus Such a case I confess may be yea as many Duties are neglected by some godly so this main Duty is I may tremble to think it exceedingly neglected But O the sin and sadness of those souls O the wants attending such poor creatures Consider them in these particulars 1. They have not that wisdom knowledge discerning of Christ as otherwise they might have By looking and serious observing of Christ we gain more and more knowledge of Christ but if we will not look how should we understand those great mysteries of grace nor speak I only of speculative knowledge but more especially of practical and experimental without looking on Christ we cannot expect that vertue should go out of Christ there is but a poor character or cognizance of Christ upon them that are such they have not so clear and comfortable and inward and experimental a knowledge of Jesus Christ 2. They do not so taste the goodness of Christ as otherwise they might Christ is no other unto them whilst neglected by them but as an eclipsed Star with whose light they are not at all affected Christ is not sweet to them in his Ordinances they find not in them that delight and refreshment that comfort and contentment which they usually minister they cannot say of Christ as the Spouse did I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste Cant. 2.3 they are in the case of Barzillai who could not taste what he did eat or what he did drink nor could hear any more the voice of singing-men or of singing-women so they cannot taste the things of God nor hear the spiritual melody which Christ makes to the souls of them that look up to him 3. They have not that love to Christ which Christs beholders have they meditate not upon Christ as lovers on their love they delight not themselves in Christ as the rich man in his treasure and the bride in the bridegroom which they love their thoughts are rather on the world than Christ their palates are so distempered that they have no pleasure in the choycest wine they cannot say that their souls long after him and no wonder for how should they love Christ who turn their eyes from him who is the fairest of ten thousands to other objects Surely they have no flaming burning love to Christ that will give every base thing a kind of preheminence above Christ 4. They have not that sense of Christs love which those that exercise this Duty have whilest the soul neglects Christ it cannot possibly discern the love of Christ it perceives not Christ applying the Doctrines of his love to the conscience Christ appears not in his banquetting house he enables not the soul to pray with confidence he makes it not joyful in the house of prayer And hence it is that such souls move so slowly in Gods service they are just like Pharaohs charrets without wheels O they perceive not the Love of Christ either in the clear revelation of his secrets or in the free communication of his graces or in the sanctifying and sweetning of their tryals or in sealing up the pardon of their sins O they feel not those ravishing comforts which usually Christ speaks to the heart when he speaks from his heart in love O the want O the misery of this want 5. They have not that experience of the power of Christ which they have that are in the exercise of this Duty Would you know wherein lies the power of Christ I answer in casting down the strong holds of sin in overthrowing Satan in humbling mens hearts in sanctifying their souls in purifying their consciences in bringing their thoughts to the obedience of Christ in making them able to endure afflictions in causing them to grow and encrease in all Heavenly graces and this power they partake of who rightly and experimentally look up to Christ But if this Duty be neglected there is no such thing hence we call this the Duty of Duties the chief Duty the especial Duty and for all other Duties Means Ordinances if Christ be not in them they are nothing worth In every Duty this is the essential part that we look through all unto Jesus it is only from Christ that Vertue and Efficacy is communicate in spiritual Ordinances there were many people in a throng about Christ but the infirm woman that touched him was she alone that felt efficacy come from him we see many attend the Ordinances frequent the Assemblies but some few only find the inward power of Christ derived unto their souls They that neglect or are grosly ignorant of this great mistery of looking unto Jesus are no beter then strangers to the power of Christ 6. They have not that sense of the worth and excellency of Christ that are unacquainted with this Duty they are not so ravished with his Beauty they are not so taken with the Sweetness and Pleasantness of
rich mercy of Christ that he would admit a Dog to his Kingdom O grace O mercy that Christ should black his fair hands in washing foul and defiled Dogs what a motion of free mercy was this that Christ should lay his fair spotless and chast love upon the black defiled and whorish souls O what a favour that Christ maketh the Leopard and Ethiopian white for Heaven Matth. 16.19 4. Now he discovered his bounty in giving the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven to his Apostles and to their Successors this was a power which he had never communicated before it was a gift greater than the great Charter of Nature and the Donative of the whole Creation Indeed at first God gave unto man a dominion over the Fish of the Sea Gen. 1.26 and over the Fowl of the Air and over the Cattel and over the Earth but till now Heaven it self was never subordinate to humane Ministration herein was the acting of Christ's bounty he gives unto his Ministers the Keys of Heaven that Whatsoever they shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever they shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven 5. Now he discovered his patience in suffering all injuries from hence forward to the death of Jesus we must reckon his dayes like the Vigils or Eves of his Passion for now he began and often did ingeminate those sad predictions of the usage he should shortly find Matth. 16.21 that he should be rejected of the Elders and chief Priests and Scribes and suffer many things at Jerusalem and be killed and be raised up the third day and in the mean time he suffers both in word and deed they call him a Glutton a Drunkard a Deceiver a Sinner a Mad-Man a Samaritan and one possed with a Devil sometimes they take up stones to stone him and sometimes they lead him to an Hill thinking to throw him down headlong and all this he suffereth with patience yea with much patience he possesseth his soul 6. Now he discovered his glory in being transfigured on the Mount however the Person of Christ was usually depressed with poverty disgrace ignominy so that neither Jews nor Gentiles nor the Apostles themselves could at first discern the brightness of his Divinity yet now Christ gave an excellent probation of that great Glory which in due time must be revealed to all the Saints For taking with him Peter James and John Luke 9.28 29 30 31. he went up into the Mountain to pray and while he prayed he was transfigured before them and his face did shine like the Sun and his garments were white and glistering and there appeared talking with him Moses and Elias speaking of the decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem the embassie of Christs death was delivered in forms of Glory that so the excellency of the reward might be represented together with the sharpness of his sufferings Now if ever whiles he was upon Earth was the beauty of Christ seen at height Peter saw it and was so ravished at the sight that he talked he knew not what In respect of this glorious beauty his face is said to shine like the Sun I cannot think but his shine exceeded Sun and Moon and Stars but the Sun is the brightest thing we know and therefore it is spoken to our capacity Here 's one strain of exaltation though mostly all Christ's life was a state of humiliation it learns us to be content with yea to expect most humiliation little exaltation here we may have a taste but no continued comforts till we come to Heaven 7. Now he discovered his meekness in riding upon an Ass and a colt the foal of an Ass which was according to the Prophesie Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek Math. 21.5 and especially in rebuking the furious intemperate zeal of James and John who would fain have called for fire from Heaven to have consumed the Inhabitants of a little Village who refused to give Christ entertainment Ah saith Christ Luke 9.55 Ye know not of what spirits ye are of q. d. you must learn to distinguish the spirit of Christianity from the spirit of Elias why Christ came with a purpose to seek and to save mens lives Ver. 56. and not to destroy them it were rashness indeed to slay a man on some light displeasure whose redemption cost the effusion of the dearest heart-blood of the Son of God See here the meekness of Christ in opposition to the fury and anger of his own Disciples 8. Now he discovered his pity and compassion in weeping over Jerusalem Luke 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even thou c. We read of Joseph Gen. 43.30 Gen. 45.1 that there was in him such a brotherly and natural compassion that his bowels yearned upon his Brethren and he could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him his love was like an hot Furnace now Jesus Christ hath the same heart and bowels of a man and I conceive as Christ was a man void of sin so the acts of natural vertues as to pity the afflicted to compassionate the distressed were stronger in him than possibly they could be in any other man sin blunteth natural faculties especially such as incline to laudable and good acts as to love and pity and compassionate the miserable in this respect Joseph was nothing to Christ when Christ saw Jerusalem he wept and wept his compassion strangled and enclosed within him it must needs break out it may be in some measure it eased Christ's mind that his bowels of mercy found a vent we read that pity kept within Gods bowels pains his very heart so that it must needs come out Mine heart is turned within me Hos 11.8 my repentings are kindled together 9. Now he discovered his humility in washing his Disciples feet Supper being ended Joh. 13.4 5. he laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself and poured water into a bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded In this ceremony and in the discourses following he instructs them in the Doctrine of humility yea he imprints the lesson in lasting Characters by making it symbolical But why would he wash their feet rather than their hands or heads I answer it is probable on this account that he might have the opportunity of a more humble posture See how he layes every thing aside that he might serve his servants Heaven stoops to Earth on abiss calls one another the miseries of man which were next to infinite are excelled by a mercy equal to the immensity of God It is storied of one Guericus that upon the consideration of this humility of Christ in washing his Disciples feet he cried out Thou hast overcome me O Lord thou hast overcome my pride this example hath mastered
manner of conversation Then is Christ's life mine when my actions refer to him as my Copy when I transcribe the Original of Christ's life as it were to the life Alas what am I better to observe in the life of Christ his Charity to his Enemies his Reprehensions of the Scribes and Pharisees his subordination to his heavenly Father his ingenuity towards all men his effusions of love towards all the Saints if there be no likeness of all this in my own actions The Life of Jesus is not described to be like a Picture in a chamber of Pleasure only for beauty and entertainment of the eye but like the Egyptain Hieroglyphicks whose very feature is a precept whose Images converse with men by sense and signification of excellent discourses to this purpose 2 Cor. 3.18 saith Paul we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed in the same Image from Glory to Glory Christ is the Image of his Father and we are the Images of Christ Christ is Gods Masterpeice and the most excellent device and work and frame of heaven that ever was or ever shall be now Christ being the top-excellency of all he is most fit to be the the pattern of all excellencies whatsoever and therefore he is the Image the Idea the Pattern the Platform of all our sanctification Come then O my soul look unto Jesus and look into thy self yea and look and look till thou art more transformed into his likeness Is it so that thou art changed into the same image with Christ took into his disposition as it is set forth in the Gospel look into his carriage look into his conversation at home and abroad and then reflecting on thy self look there and tell me canst thou find in thy self a disposition suitable to his disposition a carriage sutable to his carriage a conversation sutable to his conversation art thou every way like him in thy measure in Gospel allowance in some sweet resemblance why then here 's another ground of hope O rejoyce in it and bless God for it 3. If Christs life be mine then shall I admire adore believe and obey this Christ All these were the effects of those several passages in Christ's life respectively 1. They admire at his Doctrine and Miracles Luke 4.22 Matth. 15.31 For his Doctrine all bear him witness and wondered at those gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth and for his Miracles they wondred and they glorified the God the God of Israel yea sometimes their admiration was so great that they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondred Mark 6.51 Luke 9.43 They were amazed at the mighty Power of God and they wondred every one at all things which Jesus did 2. And as they admired so they adored there came a Leaper and worshipped him Matth. 8.2 Matth. 9.18 Matth. 14.33 saying if thou wilt thou canst make me clean and there came a Ruler and worshipped him saying My Daughter is even now dead come lay thy hand on her and she shall live and they that were in the Ship came and worshipped saying of a truth thou art the Son of God The very worshipping of Christ confesseth thus much that he is the Son of God 3. And as they adored so they believed If thou canst believe said Christ to the Father of the possessed Child all things are possible to him that believeth Mark 9.23 24. and straight way he cried out and said with tears Lord I believe help thou my unbelief And when many of his Disciples fell away then said Jesus to the twelve will ye also go away Peter answers for the rest to whom shall we go Why Lord we believe John 6.66 69. and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God not only worshipping of Christ but believing in Christ is a right acknowledgment that Christ is God Rom. 6.17 Mat. 4.19 20 22. 4. And as they believed so they obeyed ye have obeyed from the heart said Paul to the Romans that form of Doctrine which was delivered to you no sooner Peter and Andrew heard the voice of Christ follow me but they left all and followed him and no sooner James and John heard the same voice of Christ follow me but they left all and followed him Matth. 9.9 John 8.31 and no sooner Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom heard that voice of Christ follow me but he rose and followed him Why then are ye my Disciples indeed said Christ to the believing Jews if ye continue in my word Come then put thy self O my soul to the test thou hast seen and heard the wonderfull passages of Christ's Life the Baptism of Christ the Fasting of Christ the Temptations of Christ the Manifestations of Christ the Doctrine of Christ the Miracles of Christ the Holiness of Christ and is this the issue of all Dost thou now begin to admire and adore and believe and to obey this Christ is thy heart warmed thy affections kindled Forbs tells us that the word of God hath three degrees of opperation in the hearts of his chosen first it falleth to mens ears as the sound of many waters a mighty great and confused sound and which commonly brings neither terrour nor joy but yet a wandering and acknowledgment of a strange force and more than humane power this is that effect which many felt hearing Christ when they were astonished at his Doctrine as teaching with authority Mat. 1.22 27. Luke 4.32 John 7.46 what manner of Doctrine is this never man spake like this man the next effect is the voice of thunder which bringeth not only wonder but fear also not only filleth the ears with sound and the heart with astonishment but moreover shaketh and terrifieth the conscience the third effect is the sound of harping while the Word not only ravisheth with admiration and striketh the Conscience with terror but also lastly filleth it with sweet peace and joy In the present case give me leave to ask O my soul art thou struck into a maze at the mighty Miracles and divine Doctrine of Jesus Christ dost thou fall down and worship him as the Lord and thy God dost thou believe in him and relie on him for Life and Salvation dost thou obey him and follow the Lamb which way soever he goes dost thou act from Principles of Grace in newness of life and holiness of conversation dost thou walk answerably to the commands of Jesus Christ or at least is there in thee an earnest endeavour so to walk and is it the sorrow of thy soul when thou observest thy failings and dost thou rejoyce in spirit when thou art led by the Spirit why then here 's another ground hope that virtue is gone of Christ's life into thy soul 4. If Christ's life be mine then I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 Paul speaks out this evidence I am crucified
affections will often break out at the window when the door is closed Thus Stephen look'd up to Heaven he sent a Post a greedy pitiful and hungry look up to Jesus Christ out at the window Acts 7.55 at the nearest passage to tell him that a poor friend was coming to him why thus let us look up to Jesus by calling on him now this calling on him contains Prayer and Praise 1. We must pray that all these transactions of Jesus during his Life or during his Ministry upon earth may be ours we hope it is so and we believe it to be so but for all that we must pray that it may be so There is no contradiction betwixt Hope and Faith and Prayer but rather a concatenation Lord I believe yet help my unbelief or Mark 9.24 be it to me according to my Faith how weak soever it will bear that sense 2. We must praise God for all those passages in Christ's life Thus did the multitude they praised God with a loud voice Luke 19.37 38 for all the mighty works that they had seen saying blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest What my Soul hath Christ done all this for thee was he made under the Law to redeem thy soul and adopt thee for his Son to the inheritance of Heaven came he down from heaven and travelled he so many miles on earth to woo and win thy heart spent he so many Sermons and so many Miracles to work thee into Faith O how shouldest thou bless and prize and magnifie his Name how shouldest thou break out into that blessed Hymn To him that loved us Rev. 1.5 6. and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus as he acted for us in his Life Looking to Jesus intends this especially we must look as one looks to his Pattern as Mariners at Sea that they may run a right course keep an eye on that Ship that bears the Light so in the Race that is set before us we must have our eye on Jesus our blessed Pattern This must be our constant Query Is this the course that Jesus steered Or that I may enlarge In this Particular I shall examine these three Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. Why we must conform 3. How we must conform to this Life of Jesus For the first wherein we must conform I answer 1. Negatively we must not cannot conform to Christ in those works proper to his Godhead as in working Miracles I deny not but that the works of Miracles were by way of priviledge and temporary dispensation granted to the Apostles and some others but this was but for Ministry and Service not for their Sanctity or Salvation nor must we conform to Christ in those works of mediation as in redeeming souls in satisfying Divine Justice for our sin No man can redeem his Brother Psal 49.7 nor give to God a ransom for him There is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Nor must we conform to Christ in those works of his Government and influence into his Church as in dispensing of his Spirit in quickning of his Word in subduing of his enemies in collecting of his Members all these are personal honours which belong unto Christ as he is Head of the Church and to these works if we should endeavour to conform we should Crack our Sinews dissolve our silver cords and never the nearer Nor need we to conform to Christ in some other Particulars in his voluntary poverty he became poor for our sakes 2 Cor. 8.9 In his Ceremonial performances as in going up to Jerusalem at the Feasts in his perpetual grave deportment we never read that Jesus laughed and but once or twice that he rejoyced in spirit Alas the declensions of our Natures cannot come up to this Pattern nor do I look at these passages as any acts of moral obedience at all 2. Affirmatively or positively we must conform to Christ's life 1. In respect of his Judgment Will Affections Compassions Look we at his Spirit observe what mind was in Jesus Christ and therein do we endeavour to conform Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle which was in Christ Phil. 2.5 Phil. 2.5 And we have the mind of Christ saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 2.16 2. In respect of his Virtues Graces habitual Holiness Mat. 11.29 Learn of me saith Christ for I am meek and lowly in heart Christ was of a meek and gentle Spirit 2 Cor. 10.2 I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ saith Paul And Christ was of an humble and lowly Spirit Being in the form of God Phil. 2.6 7. he thought it no robbery to be equal with God yet he made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant I might instance in all other Graces for he had them all in fulness John 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received Grace for Grace 3. In respect of his words talk spiritual and heavenly Language The very Officers of the Priests could say of Christ Never man spake like this man John 7.46 and sometimes they all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luke 4.22 He never sinned in word neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled 1 Pet. 2.22 23 reviled not again The Apostle speaking thus of Christ he tells us that herein Christ left us an example that we should follow his steps Ver. 21. 4. In respect of his Carriage Conversation Close-walking with God The Apostle sets forth Christ as an high Priest who was holy harmless undefiled Heb. 7.26 1 Pet. 2.9 and separate from sinners and in like manner saith Peter Ye are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light that ye should shew forth the virtue i.e. that in your lives and conversations you should express those graces and virtues which were so eminent and exemplary in Jesus Christ that you should not only have them but that you should hold them forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies properly to preach so clearly should we express the virtues of Christ as if our lives were so many Sermons of the life of Christ In respect of all his acts practises duties of moral obedience we find in the life of Christ many particular carriages and acts of obedience to his heavenly Father whereof some were moral and some ceremonial now all these are not for our imitation but only such moral acts as concerning which we have both his pattern and precept Come let us
God of this world blinds the eyes of men O take heed of fixing our eyes on this worlds vanity our own corruptions are also great hinderances to this view of Christ away away with all carnal passions base humours sinful desires unless the soul be spiritual it can never behold spiritual things 3. Let us fix our eyes only on this blessed Object a moving rolling eye sees nothing clearly 1 Pet. 1.12 When the Angels are said to look into these things the word signifies that they look into them narrowly as they who bowing or stooping down do look into a thing so should we look narrowly into the life of Christ our eye of faith should be set upon in a steady manner as if all the world could not move us as if we forgot all the things behind and had no other business in the world but this 4. Let us look wishingly and cravingly there is affection as well as vision in the eye Acts 3.5 as the lame man that lay in Solomon's porch looked wishly on Peter and John expecting to receive something of them so let us look on Christ with a craving eye with an humble expectation to receive a supply of grace from Christ Why Lord thou art not only anoynted with the the oyl of gladness above thy fellows but for thy fellows I am earthly minded but thou art heavenly I am full of lusts but the Image of God is perfect in thee thou art the fountain of all grace an head of influence as well as of eminence thou art not only above me but thou hast all grace for me and therefore O give me some portion of thy meekness lowliness heavenly-mindedness and of all other the graces of thy Spirit Surely thou art an heaven of grace full of bright shining stars Oh that of that fulness thou wouldst give me to receive even grace for grace I pray Lord with an humble expectation of receiving from thee Oh let me feel the dropping of the two-olive trees into the golden candlesticks yea even into my soul 5. Be we assured that our prayer if it be in faith is even now heard never any came to Christ with strong expectations to receive grace or any benefit prayed for that was turned empty away besides Christ hath engaged himself by promise to write his Law in our hearts to make us like himself As he which hath called us is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 so should yea and so shall we be holy in all manner of conversation Oh let us build on his gracious promise Heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or title of his Word shall fail only understand we his promise in this sence that our conformity must be gradual not all at once We all with open face beholding as in a glass 2 Cor. 3.18 the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory i.e. from grace to grace or from glory inchoate in obedience to glory consumate in our heavenly inheritance 6. If notwithstanding all this we feel not for the present this conformity in us at least in such a degree let us act over the same particulars again and again the gifts of grace are therefore communicated by degrees that we might be taken off from living upon a received stock of grace and that we might still be running to the spring and drink in there why alas we have a continual need of Christ's letting out himself and grace into our hearts and therefore we must wait at the well-head Christ we must look on Christ as appointed on purpose by his Father to be the Beginner and Finisher of our holiness and we must believe that he will never leave that work imperfect whereunto he is ordained of the Father We may be confident saith the Apostle of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in us will perform it or finish it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Oh then be not weary of this work until he accomplish the desires of thy soul I have now done with this subject only before I finish one word more Sometimes I have observed that many precious souls in their endeavours after grace holiness sanctification have been frequent in the use of such and such means duties ordinances wherein I cannot say but they have done well and for their help I therefore composed that piece called Media but of all the ordinances of Christ this Looking unto Jesus is made least use of though it be chief of all It is Christ when all is done that is that great Ordinance appointed by God for grace and holiness and certainly those souls which trade immediately with Jesus Christ will gain more in a day than others in a moneth in a year I deny not other helps but amongst them all if I would make choice which to fall upon that I may become more and more holy I would set before me this glass i.e. Christ's holy life the great examplar of holiness we were at first created after his Image in holiness and this Image we lost through our sin and to this Image we should endeavour to be restored by imitation And how should this be done but by looking on Christ as our pattern by running through the several Ages of Christ and by observing all his graces and gracious actings in this respect I charge thee O my soul for to what purpose should I charge others if I begin not at home and with thee that thou make conscience of this practical Evangelical duty O be much in the exercise of it not only in the day intend Christ but when night comes and thou lyest down on thy bed let thy pillow be as Christ's bosom in which John the beloved Disciple was said to lean there lean thou with John yea lye thou between his breast and Let them lye all night betwixt thy breasts thus mayest thou lye down in peace and sleep Cant. 1.13 Psal 4.8 and the Lord only will make thee to dwell in safety and when day returns again have this in mind yea in all thy thoughts words and deeds even look unto Jesus as thy holy examplar Say to thy self If Christ my Saviour were now upon earth would these be his thoughts words and deeds would he be thus disposed as I now feel my self would he speak these words that I am now uttering would he do this that I am now putting my hand unto O let me not yield my self to any thought word or action which my dear Jesus would be ashamed to own yea if it were possible for thee to be so constant in this blessed duty going and standing sitting and lying eating and drinking speaking and holding thy peace by thy self or in company cast an eye upon Jesus for by this means thou canst not chuse but love him more and joy in him more and trust in him more and be more and more familiar with him and draw more and more grace and vertue and sweetness
took him and commanded him to be bound with two Chains And that this might be their dealing with Christ Judas by his counsel seems to speak hold him fast take him and lead him away safely q. d. make him sure that he escape not out of your hands he hath deceived you often and therefore Chain him with an Iron Chain that will be sure to hold I cannot pass this without some word to our selves Vse Christ undergoes this restraint that all sorts of persecution might be sanctified to us by his susception Again Christ was faster bound with his cords of Love than with Iron fetters his love was strong as death it overcame him who is invincible and bound him who is omnipotent the Jews cords were but the Symboles and Figures but the dear love the tender bowels of Jesus Christ were the Morals and things signified Again Christ was bound that we might be free the Cords of Christ were so full of virtue that they loosed the Chains of our sins and tied the hands of Gods Justice which were stretched out against us for our sins Again he was bound for us that so he might bind us to himself I drew them with cords of a man with bands of Love Hos 11.4 A strange thing it was to see the King bound for the Thieves offence but such was Christ's Love that he might draw sinful mankind to the Love of him again Lastly one good Lesson we may learn from wicked Judas take him and lead him away safely hold him fast Come Christians here 's good counsel from a Judas like another Caiaphas he Prophesies he knows not what take him and lead him away and hold him fast It is of necessity that those which spiritually seek after Christ should take him by Faith and hold him fast by Love I will rise now saith the Spouse I will seek him whom my soul loveth and anon I found him whom my soul loveth I held him Cant. 3.2 4. and would not let him go until I had brought him into my Mothers House into the Chambers of her that conceived me We must arise out of the bed of sin we must seek Christ in the use of Ordinances and there if we find him we must take him lay hold on him by the hands of Faith and not let him go but lead him safely until we have brought him into our Mothers House into the Assemblies of his people or if you will until we have brought him into our souls where he may sup with us and we with him 4. For his leading to Annas John John 18.13 records it that they led him to Annas first for he was Father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the high Priest that same year 1. They led him away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it refers to the place whence they led him the Garden was the terminus a quo there they apprehended him and bound him and thence they led him away but the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is something more than meerly abduco sometimes it signifies abigo to drive away whether by force or fraud somtimes rapio ad suplicium ad judicandum to snatch away either to punishment or to judgment It is said †Ecce trahebatur passis Prionidia virgo crinibus Virg. Aen. 1. they drew him away by the hairs of the head and that they led him in uncouth wayes and through the Brook Cedron in which the ruder Souldiers plunged him and passed upon him all the affronts and rudeness which an insolent and cruel multitude could think of So that now again was the fulfilling of the Prophesie He shall drink of the Brook in the way Psal 110.7 I dare not deliver these things as certain truths only this I affirm that they led him snatcht him haled him from the Garden back again to Jerusalem over the Brook and Valley called Cedron 2. They led him first to Annas why thither is a question the cognizance of the cause belonged not properly to Annas but to Caiaphas all that can be said for Annas is that he was chief of the Sanhedrim and Father-in-law to Caiaphas and to the High Priest the next year following Oh when I think of Jesus thus led away to Annas first when I think of him partly going and partly haled forwards and forced to hasten his Grave-pace Vse when I think of him thrown into or plunged in the Waters of the Brook and so forced to drink of the Brook Cedron in the way when I think of him presented by a deal of Souldiers and rude Catch-poles to this mercenary Annas and withal think that I had an hand as deep as any other in these acts my heart must either break or I must proclaim it an heart of flint and not of flesh Come Christians let us lay our hands upon our hearts and cry Oh my Pride and Oh my Covetousness and Oh my Malice and Revenge Oh my Vnbelief and Oh my Vnthankfulness and Oh my Vncharitableness to the needy members of Christ Jesus why these were the rout these were they that led and dragg'd and drew Jesus as it were by the hair of his head these were they that took hold of the chain and pulled him forwards and shewed him in triumph to this bloody Annas nay these were the Judas Jews Annas and all Oh that ever I should lodge within me such an heart that should lodge in it such sins such betrayers such murderers of Jesus Christ But I must remember my self Watchman what of the night Watchman Isa 21.11 12. Mat. 14.25 Exod. 14.24 Psal 130.6 what of the night if ye will enquire enquire return come We may now suppose it about the third hour or the last watch in the Gospel it is called the fourth watch of the night elsewhere it is called the morning-watch which continueth till the morning And of the Acts done in this interval of time we are next to treat SECT VII Of Christ's Examination and Condemnation with their Appendices NOw it was that they led him from Annas to Caiphas and presently a Council is called of the High Priests Scribes and Elders these were the greatest gravest learned'st wisest men amongst them and they all conspire to judge him who is the great Judge both of quick and dead In their proceedings we may observe 1. The captious examination of the High Priest 2. The sacrilegious smiting of one of the Servants 3. The impious accusations of the Witnesses 4. The Sentence of the Judges 5. The perfidious denial of perjured Peter 6. The shameful delusion and abuses of the base Attendants 1. For the captious examination of the High Priest The High Priest then asked Jesus of his Disciples John 18.19 and of his Doctrine 1. Of his Disciples what the Questions were it is not expressed but probably they might be such as these How many Disciples he had and where they were and what was become of them why he should take upon him to be better guarded than others
something more observable in this vote Jud. 9.14 the Jews had a custom not to name what they held accursed I will not make mention of their names within my lips and surely this speaks their spight Psal 16.5 that they will not vouchsafe to speak the Name of Jesus the cry is not thus Not Jesus but Barabbas but thus Not this man not this fellow but Barabbas as if they meant first to murther his Name and then his Person 4. For Pilate's quaere upon the vote What shall I do then with Jesus Mat. 27.22 which is called Christ Pilate gives him his name to the full Jesus who is called Christ his name is Jesus Christ There is more pitty in a gentle Pilate than in all the Jews in some things Pilate did Justly and very well as first he would not condemn him before his accusations were brought in nor then neither before he was convicted of some capital crime and because he perceives that it was envy all along that drove on their design he endeavours to save his life by ballancing him with Barabbas and now he sees that they prefer Barabbas before Jesus he puts forth the question What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ q. d. I know not what to do with him it is against my light to condemn him to death who is of innocent life I could tell what to do with Barabbas for he is a thief a mutiniere a murtherer a notable malefactor but there is no such thing proved against Jesus who is called Christ What then shall I do with him 5. For their answer to this quaere And they all said unto him let him be crucified Mat. 27.22 This was the first time that they speak openly their design it had long lurk'd within them that he must die a cursed death and now their envy bursts and breaks out with unanimous consent and cry Let him be crucified O wonder must no other death stint their malice but the Cross other deaths they had in practise as the towel stoning and beheading more favourable and suitable to their Nation and will they now pollute a Jew with a Roman death Magna crudelitas c. a great cruelty Beda they sought not only to kill him but to crucifie him that so he might dye a lingering death The cross was a gradual and slow death it spun out pain into a long thred and therefore they make choice of it as they made choice of Jesus let him dye rather than Barabbas and let him dye the death of the Cross rather than any other speedy quick dispatching death 6. Eor Pilate's reply unto this answer Why what evil hath he done Mat. 27.23 he was loath to satisfie their demands and therefore he questions again What must he dye for was it meet that he should condemn one to death and especially to such a death and no crime committed Come on saith Pilate what evil hath he done Augustine upon these words Ask saith he and let them answer with whom he conversed most Aug. tract 15. super Job let the possessed who were freed the sick and languishing who were healed the leaprous that were cleansed the deaf that hear the dumb that speak the dead that were raised let them answer the question what evil hath he done Sometimes the Jews themselves could say Mark 7.37 He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak Surely he hath done all things well he stilled the winds and calmed the seas with the spittle of his mouth he cured the blind he raised the dead he prayed all night he gave grace and he forgave sins and by his death he merited for his Saints everlasting life why then should he dye that hath done all things well no wonder if Pilate object against these malicious ones What evil hath he done Ibid. 7. For their reduplication on his reply they cryed out the more saying let him be crucified Instead of proving some evil against him they cryed out the more as Luke They were instant with loud voices Luke 23.23 they made such a clamour that the earth rang with it the cry was doubled and redoubled Crucifie him Crucifie him twice Crucifie him as if they thought one Cross too little for him O inconstant favour of men their Anthems of Hosanna and Benedictus not long since joyfully spoken are now turned into jarring hideous notes Let him be crucified And now is Pilate threatned into another opinion Ver. 23. Mat. 27.24 they require his judgment and the voices of them and of the Chief Priest prevailed so it follows and when he saw he could prevail nothing but that rather a tumult was made why then Barabbas is released unto them and Jesus is delivered to be scourged Vse I would not dwell too long on Pilate the high Priests and Jews the application is the life of all Now then 1. Give me leave to look amongst our selves is there not some or other amongst us that prefer Barabbas before Jesus O yes those that listen to that old mutinous Murtherer in his seditious temptations those that reject the blessed motions of Gods own Spirit in his tenders and offers of Grace those that embrace the world with its pleasures and profits and make them their portion all these chuse Barabbas and reject Jesus Christ little do we think that every wilfull act of sin is a sedition a mutiny against our souls another Judas Galileus that stirs up all the passions of our mind against our Jesus I cannot but think what drawing and soliciting of our souls is made by vertue and vice in our passage towards the other world on the one hand stands vice with all her false deceits Wisd 2.6 7 8 9. and flatteries her tempatations are strong Come let us enjoy the good things that are present and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth let us fill our selves with costly Wine and Ointments and let no flower of the spring pass by us let us crown our selves with rose-buds before they be withered let none of us go without his part of jollity let us leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place for this is our portion and our let is this On the other hand stands Vertue or Grace with all the promises of future happiness she points at Jesus Prov. 8.11 18 19. and cries O come unto Christ and live Wisdome is better than rubies her fruit is better than Gold yea than fine Gold and her revenue than choice Silver they that love Christ shall inherit substance and he will fill them with treasures even with durable riches But Oh how many thousands and ten thousands that neglect this cry and follow vice what millions of men are there in the world that prefer Barabbas before Jesus if we proclaim it in our pulpits that Christ is the chiefest of ten thousands that he is fairer than all the Children
marvellous that Jesus Christ by these means should overthrow the Kingdom of pride and yet that there should remain in me the relicks of pride consider all those night-sufferings of Christ O cruel night O unquiet night now was the season that all creatures should take their rest that the senses and members wearied with toils and labours should be refreshed but on the contrary Christ's members and senses were then tormented they struck his body they afflicted his soul they bound his hands they buffetted his cheeks they spit in his face O my soul thou sinnest in the dark in covert in secret when no eye is upon thee when the Sun that eye of the world is set or hid and therefore all the night long is Christ thus tormented by thy sins not one jot of rest hath Christ not a wink of sleep must seize on him whom thou by the alarm of thy sins disquieted both at evening at mid-night and at the Cock-Crow and at the dawning 4. Consider the hurryings of Jesus from Caiphas to Pilate now he stands before Pilate where he was accused of sedition seduction and usurpation Not only Jews but Gentiles have their hands imbrewed in the blood of Christ Pilate was delegated from Cesar Luke 18.31 both of them Gentiles yet not without a prophesie Behold we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the Prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished for he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles at the Gentile-tribunal being questioned of his Kingdom and he answers both the Jews and Gentiles that they need not fear his usurpation John 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this world He gives Kingdoms that are eternal but he will take away none that are temporal Christ came not into the world to be Cesar's or Pilate's or Herod's successor but if they had believed to have been their Saviour Look through the Chronicles of his life and we find him so far from a King that he was the meanest servant of all men where was he born but at Bethlehem a little City where did the Shepherds find him but in a poor cottage who were his Disciples but a deal of Fishermen who his Companions but Publicans and sinners is he hungry where stands his table but on plain ground what are his dainties but bread and a few Fishes where is his lodging but at the stern of a Ship Here 's a King without either presence-chamber or bed-chamber The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have nests but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head Come fear not Pilate the loss of thy diadem it may be the people would sometimes have made him a King but see how he flies from it My Kingdom is not of this World saith Jesus Oh that I could but contemn the World as Christ did O that first and above all I could seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness Oh my soul I feel it I feel it unless I can be free from the affection of all creatures I cannot with freedom of mind aspire unto divine things unless I be willing with Christ to tread on Crowns and Scepters to be despised and forsaken of all and to be esteemed nothing at all I can have no inward peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor be wholly united to the Lord Jesus Christ 5. Consider the hurryings of Jesus from Pilate to Herod there is he questioned of many things but justly is the Lamb of God dumb and opened not his mouth to him that not long before had taken away his voice upon this he is mocked Luke 23.11 and arrayed in a gorgeous robe Wisdom is taken for Folly Vertue for Vice Truth for Blasphemy Temperance for Gluttony the Peace-maker of all the World for a seditious disturber of the World the reformer of the Law for a breaker of the Law and the justifier of sinners for a sinner and the follower of sinners See how he emptied himself and made himself of no reputation that he might fill thee with goodness and make thee spiritually wise unto salvation 6. Consider the hurryings of Jesus from Herod back again to Pilate O my Saviour how art thou now abused new accusations are forged and when Pilate sees that nothing will do but Christ must dye he delivers him to be stripped whipped cloathed in Purple crowned with Thorns and Sceptred with a Reed He that with spittle cured the eyes of the blind is now blinded with their spittle who can number those stripes wherewith they flea and tare his body one wound eating into another that there is no health in his bones by reason of my sins O Jesus was that frothy spittle the Ointment those Thorns thy Crown that Reed thy Scepter that Purple-dyed and imbroidered with blood thy Royal Robes or because Adam's sin brought forth Thorns must it therefore be thy pennance to wear them unthankful people thus watered with his blood that bring forth nothing but Thorns to crown him But Oh that the Lord of Heaven the Creator of the World the Glory of the Angels the Wisdom of God should for my sake be punished with whips and scourges O my heart how can I think on this without tears of blood O joy of the Angels and Glory of Saints who hath thus disfigured thee who hath thus defiled thee with so many bloody blows certainly they were not thy sins but mine it was love and mercy that compast thee about and caused thee to take upon thee this so heavy a burthen love was the cause why thou didst bestow upon me all thy benefits and mercy moved thee to take upon thee all my miseries 7. Consider that sad spectacle of Jesus when he came forth wearing the Crown of Thorns and the Purple Robe and Pilate saying unto them behold the Man John 19.5 O my soul fix thy eyes on the sad object suppose thy self in the case of Jesus what if in so sensible and tender a part as thy head is men should fasten a number of Thorns yea and those so sharp that they should pierce into thy scull why alas thou canst hardly abide the prick of a pin much less the piercing in of so many Thorns O but thy Jesus was crowned with Thorns and Sceptred with a Reed and that Reed was taken out of his hands to beat the Crown of Thorns into his head and besides thy Jesus was whipped with cords and rods and little chains of iron that from his shoulders to the soles of his feet there was no part free and being now in this plight thou art called on to behold the Man dost thou see him is thy imagination strong canst thou consider him at present as if thou hadst a view of this very man methinks it should make thee break out and say O brightness of thy Fathers glory who hath thus cruelly dealt with thee O unspotted glass of the Majesty of God who hath thus wholly disfigured thee O river that flows out
that Respect 5. LEt us believe in Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation for us during his Sufferings and Death Every one looks upon this as an easie duty only the humble Soul the scrupulous Conscience cries out What! Is it possible that Christ should die suffer shed his blood for me His incarnation was wonderful his life on earth was to astonishment but that the Son of God should become man live amongst men and die such a death even the death of the Cross for such a one as I am I cannot believe it it is an abys◠past fadoming the more I consider it the more I am amazed at it suppose I had an enemy in my power man or Devil one that provokes me every day 1 Sam. 24.19 one that hunts my soul to take it away should I not say with Saul if a man find his enemy will he let him go well away It may be an ingenuous spirit such as David would do thus much but would David or any breathing soul not only spare his enemy but spill himself to save his enemy would a man become a Devil to save Devils would a man endure hell pains to free all the Devils in hell from their eternal pains and yet what were this in comparison of what Christ hath done or suffered for us It is not so much for us to suffer for Devils for we are fellow-creatures as it is for Christ God-man man-God to suffer for us Oh what an hard thing is it considering my enmity against Christ to believe that Christ died for me that he gave himself to the death even to the death of the Cross for my soul Trembling soul throw not away thy self in a way of unbelief It may thou wouldst not die for an enemy an irreconcileable enemy but are not the mercies of God above all the mercies of men O believe And that I may perswade effectually I shall say down first some Directions and secondly some Encouragements of Faith 1. For the Directions of Faith in reference to Christ's death observe these particulars 2. Faith must directly go to Christ not first to the promise and then to Christ but first to Christ and then to the promise the Person ever goes before the Prerogative 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh this was the difference betwixt the New-Testament and old-Testament-Believers their Faith directs only to God but our Faith looks more immediately to Jesus Christ Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved 3. Faith must directly go to Christ as God in the flesh made under the Law He continued in all things written in the book of the Law to do them and so our Faith must look upon him But of these before I shall say nothing more to these particulars 4. Faith must go to Christ not only as made under the directive part of the Law by his life but under the penal part of the Law by his death in both these respects Christ was made under the law The one half of the Law he satisfied by the holiness of his life he fulfilled the law in every jot and every tittle the other half of the Law he satisfied by his enduring the death even the death of the Cross he paid both the Principal and the Forfeiture and though men do not so yet Christ did so that the whole Law might be satisfied fully by his being under both these parts of the Law pay and penalty Come then and look upon Christ as dying it was the Serpent as lifted up and so looked at that healed the Israelites of their fiery stings Alas we are diseased in a spiritual sense as they were and Christ Jesus was lifted up as a remedy to us as the Serpent was unto them it remains therefore that as they looked up to the Brazen Serpent so we look up to Jesus believe in Jesus as lifted up for life and for salvation As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness John 14.15 so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Indeed some difference there is betwixt the Serpent and Christ As 1. The Brazen Serpent had not power in if self to cure as Christ hath 2. The Serpent cured the Israelites but for a time John 11.26 to die again but whomsoever Jesus cures in a Spiritual sense he cures for ever they shall never die 3. The serpent also had its time of curing it did not alwayes retain its virtue but during the time they were in the Wilderness only Iesus Christ our Brazen Serpent doth ever retain his power and virtue to the end of the world and hence it is that in the Ministry Christ is still held forth as lifted up that all that will but look on him by faith may live 4. The Serpent sometimes a remedy against poyson was after turned even to poyson the Israelites which made Hezekiah to crush it and brake it and stamp it to powder but Jesus Christ ever remains the sovereign and healing God he is the same yesterday to day and for ever He is unchangeable in his goodness as he is in holy and divine nature he can never be defaced nor destroyed but he abideth the saviour of sinners to all eternity why then let us rather look unto Christ and believe in Christ as lifted up i.e. as he was crucified and died on the Cross In this respect he is made a fit object for a sinner's faith to trust upon and rest upon Christ as crucified as made sin and a curse for us it the object of our pardon O this is it that makes Christ's death so desirable why therein is virtually and meritoriously pardon of sin Justification redemption reconciliation and what not Oh! cries a sinner where may I set my foot how should I regain my God my sin hath undone me which way should I cast for pardon why now remember that in seeking pardon Rom. 8.34 Christ was crucified Christ as dying is principally to be eyed and looked at Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed Rom. 8.34 No Question Christs active Obedience during his Life was most exact and perfect and meritorious yet that was not the expiation of sin only his passive obedience Christ only in his sufferings took away sin the guilt of sin and punishment for sin We have redemption through the blood of Christ Eph. 1.7 even the forgiveness of sins If any humble soul would have recourse to that Christ who is now in heaven let him first in the actings of his Faith consider him as crucified as lifted up as made sin for us as through whom under that consideration he is to receive pardon of sin Justification redemption reconciliation sanctification salvation 5. Faith in going to Christ as lifted up it is principally and mainly to look unto the 〈◊〉 meaning intent and design of Christ in his sufferings as he was lifted up we
Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Paul was a mortified man dead to the world and dead to sin But how came he so to be why this he attributes to the Cross of Christ to the death of Christ the death of Jesus was the cause of this death in Paul How much more shall the blood of Christ purge our Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 There is in the death of Christ first a value and secondly a vertue the former is available to our justification the latter to our sanctification now sanctification hath two parts mortification and vivification Christ's death or passive obedience is more properly conducible to the one his life or active obedience to the other Rom. 6.5 Hence Believers are said to be engraffed with Christ in the likeness of his death there is a kind of likeness betwixt Christ and Christians Christ died and the Christian dies Christ died a natural death and a Christian dies a spiritual death Christ died for sin and the Christian dies for sin this was another end of the death of Christ there issues from his death a mortifying vertue causing the death of sin in a Believer's soul one main part of our sanctification O my soul look to this herein lies the pith and marrow of the death of Christ and if now thou wilt but act and exercise thy faith in this respect how mightest thou draw the vertue and efficacy of his death into thy soul But here is the question how should I manage my Faith or how should I act my faith to draw down the vertue of Christ's death and so to feel the vertue of Christ's death in my soul mortifying crucifying and killing sin I answer 1. In prayer meditation self-examination receiving of the Lord's Supper c. I must propound to my self and soul the Lord Jesus Christ as having undertaken and performed that bitter and painful work of suffering even unto death yea that of the Cross as it is held out in the History and Narrative of the Gospel 2. I must really and steadfastly believe and firmly assent that those sufferings of Christ so revealed and discovered were real and true undoubted and every way unquestionable as in themselves 3. I must look upon those grievous bitter cruel painful and with all opprobrious execrable shameful sufferings of Christ as very strange and wonderful but especially considering the spiritual part of his sufferings viz. the sense and apprehension of God's forsaking and afflicting him in the day of his fierce anger I should even be astonished and amazed thereat what that the Son of God should lay his head on the block under the blow of divine Justice that he should put himself under the wrath of his heavenly Father that he should enter into the combat of Gods heavy displeasure and be deprived of the sense and feeling of his love and mercy and wonted comfort how should I but stand agast at these so wonderful sufferings of Jesus Christ 4. I must weigh and consider what it was that occasioned and caused all this viz. Sin yea my Sin yea this and that Sin particularly This comes nearer home and from this I must now gather in these several Conclusions As 1. It was the Design of Christ by his sufferings to give satisfaction to the infinite Justice of God for sin 2. It was intended and meant at least in a second place to give out to the world a most notable and eminent instance and demonstration of the horridness odiousness and execrableness of sin sith no less than all this yea nothing else but this would serve the turn to expiate it and atone for it 3. It holds forth again as sin is horrid in its self so it cannot but be exceeding grievous and offensive to Christ Oh it cost him dear it put him to all this pain and Torture it made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me how then should it but offend him above all above any thing in the world 4. If therefore there be in me any spark of love towards Christ or any likeness to Christ or if I would have Christ to bear any affection love regard or respect unto me it will absolutely behoove me by all means to loath sin and cast it away from me to root it up to quit my hands and to rid my heart of it The truth is I cannot possibly give forth a more pregnant proof of my sincere love entire affection respect conformity resemblance sympathy to and with Christ than by offering all violence usually all holy severity against sin for his very sake Now when the heart is thus exercised God by his Spirit will not fail to meet us our desire and endeavour of our soul to weaken and kill sin in the soul is not without its reward but especially when sin hath in this way and by this means lost the affection of the soul and is brought in hatred and disesteem it decayes and dyes of it self for it only liveth and flourisheth by the warm affections good thoughts and opinion that the soul hath of it So that matters going thus in the heart the influence that should nourish and maintain sin is cut off and it withers by degrees till it be finally and fully destroyed Thus for directions now for the encouragements of our faith to believe in Christ's death consider 1. The fulness of this object Christ crucified there is a transcendent all-sufficiency in the death of Christ in a safe sense it contains in it universal redemption it is sufficient for the redemption of every man in the world yea and effectual for all that have been are or shall be called into the state of grace whether Jews or Gentiles bound or free I know some hold that Christ dyed for all and every man with a purpose to save only thus they explicate 1. That Christ dyed for all men considered in the common lapse or fall but not as obstinate impenitent or unbelievers he dyed not for such as such 2. That Christ dyed for all men in respect of the request or impetration of salvation but the application thereof is proper to believers 3. That Christ dyed not to bring all or any man actually to salvation but to purchase salvability and reconciliation so far as that God might and would salva justitia deal with them on terms of a better covenant 4. That Christ hath purchased salvability for all men but faith and regeneration he hath merited for none because God is bound to give that which Christ hath merited of him although it be not desired or craved I cannot assent to these positions but thus far I grant that Christ's death in it self is a sufficient price and satisfaction to God for all the world and that also it is effectual in many particulars to all men respectively in all the world every man in one way or other hath
the fruit of Christ's death conferred upon him but this fruit is not of one kind for 1. Some fruit is common to every man as the earthly blessings which Infidels enjoy may be termed the fruits of Christ's death 2. Other fruit is common to all the members of the visible Church as to be called by the Word to enjoy the Ordinances to live under the Covenant to partake of some graces that come from Christ 2. Other fruit is indeed peculiar to the Saints of God as faith unfeigned regeneration pardon of sin adoption c. And yet this fruit is universal to all the Saints whether Jews or Gentiles in which sence speaks the Apostle Rom. 11.32 1 Tim. 2.6 Rom. 11.32 Rom. 5.18 Heb. 2.9 He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And he gave himself a ransome for all and God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all And by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life He tasted of death for all men or distributively for every man All which texts are rightly interpreted by Caiphas He prophesied that Jesus should dye for that Nation John 11.51 52. and not for that Nation only but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad And thus John brings in the four beasts and four and twenty Elders saying Thou art worthy to take the book Rev. 5.9 and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation and thus Paul rightly argues Is he the God of the Jews only Rom. 3.29 is he not of the Gentiles also yes of the Gentiles also O the fulness of Christ's death many are apt to complain Would Christ dye for me why alas I am an alien I am not of the common-wealth of Israel I am a dog I am a sinner a grievous sinner Eph. 2.13 14 16. a sinner of the Gentiles And what then Ye who sometimes were afar off are now made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross Oh what encouragement is this for thee to believe thy part in the death of Christ 2. Consider the worth the excellency of this glorious object Christ crucified There is an infinite of worth in the death of Christ and this ariseth first from the dignity of his person he was God-man the death of Angels and men if put together could not have amounted to the excellency of Christ's death stand amazed at thy happiness O believer thou hast gained by thy loss thou hast lost the righteousness of a creature but the righteousness of an infinite person is now made thine Rom. 10.3 2 Cor. 5.21 hence it is many times called the Righteousness of God both because Christ is God and because it is such a righteousness as God is satisfied with he looks for no better yea there can be no better 2. This worth is not only in respect of the dignity of the person but also in respect of the price offered O it was the blood of Christ one drop whereof is of more worth than thousands of gold and silver Acts 20.28 It was this blood that purchased the whole Church of God which a thousand worlds of wealth could never have done 3. This worth is not only in respect of the person and price neither but also in respect of the manner of the oblation 2 Pet. 1 18. Christ must dye on the Cross as it was determined the price in it self is not enough unless it be ordered and proportioned according to the will of him who is to be satisfied if a man should give for a captive prisoner an infinite sum of money sufficient in it self to redeem a thousand yet if not according to such a way as the conquerour prescribeth if not according to the condition it could not be called a satisfaction now this was the condition that Christ must die and dye that death of the Cross and accordingly he undertook and performed which set a lustre and glory and excellency and worth upon his death O the worth O the excellency of this death of Christ many are apt to complain O the filth of my sins Oh the injuries and unkindness that have been in mine iniquities it is not my misery my destruction that so much troubles me as that God is displeased Sweet soul turn thine eyes hither surely this death of Christ is more satisfactory to God than all thy sins possibly can be displeasing to God there was more sweet savour in Christ's sacrifice than there could be offence in all thy sins the excellency of Christ's death in making righteous doth super-abound the filthiness of sin in making a sinner Come on then and close with Christ upon this encouragement there is a dignity an excellency in this object of faith Christ crucified 3. Consider the suitableness of this blessed object The death of Christ There is in it a sutableness to our sinful condition whatsoever the sin is it is the cry of some They dare not believe they dare not touch Christ crucified they dare not approach to that precious blood because of this sin and that sin and the other sin Whereas in the death and blood of Christ if they could but take a full view of it they might find something suitable to their estate As for instance suppose thy sin the greatest sin imaginable except that against the holy Ghost art thou a murtherer hast thou had thy hands imbrued in the blood of Saints why see now how Christ for thy sake was esteemed of the Jews a murtherer and worse than a murtherer Barabbas is preferred before Jesus Barabbas is released and Jesus is murthered yea his blood is shed to wash away thy blood-shed art thou a Sorcerer a Negromancer is thy sin the sin of Manasseh of whom it is said 2 Chron. 33.6 that that he used inchantments and witchcraft and dealt with a familiar spirit and with wizards why see now how Jesus Christ for thy sake was esteemed of the Jews as an impostor an inchanter for so some say that he got the Name of God and sowed it in his thigh and by vertue thereof he wrought all his miracles and they commonly reported of him that he had a devil and that he cast out devils through Belzebub Prince of devils Art thou a blasphemer hast thou joyned with those in these sad times who have opened their mouths against the God of Heaven enough to make a Christian rend his heart and weep in blood why see now how Jesus for thy sake was judged of Caiaphas and all the Sanhedrim for a blasphemer of God and that in the highest kind of blasphemy
making Christ 's death of none effect O come and with joy draw water out of this well of Salvation Isa 12.3 5. Another cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me the very thoughts of hell seem to astonish my heart methinks I see a little peep-hole down into hell and the devil roaring there being reserved in chains under darkness untill the judgment of the great day and methinks I see the damned flaming and Judas and all the wicked in the world and they of Sodom and Gomorrah there lying and roaing and gnashing their teeth now I have sinned and why should not I be damned Oh why should not the wrath of God be executed on me yea even upon me I answer the death of Christ acquits thee of all Rom. 20.6 Blessed is he that hath a part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Christ's death hath took away the pains of the second death yea pains and power too for it shall never oppress such as belong to Christ If Hell and Devils could speak a word of truth they would say Comfort your selves ye believing souls we have no power over you for the Lord Jesus hath conquered us and we have quite lost the cause Paul was very confident of this and therefore he throws down the Gauntlet and challengeth a dispute with all commers Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Rom. 8.33 34. it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed let sin and the law and justice and death and hell yea and all the Devils in Hell unite their forces this one argument of Christ's death it is Christ that dyed will be enough to confute and confound them all Come then and comfort your selves all believers in this death of Christ what do you believe and are you confident that you do believe why then do you sit drooping What manner of communications are these that you have as ye walk and are sad Luke 24.17 Away away dumpishness despair disquietness of spirit Christ is dead that you might live and be blessed in this respect every thing speaks comfort if you could but see it God and men heaven and earth Angels and devils the very justice of God it self is now your friend and bids you go away comforted for it is satisfied to the full Heaven it self waits on you and keeps the dores open that your souls may enter We have boldness saith the Apostle to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Heb. 10.20 by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh Christ's death hath set open all the golden gates and dores of glory and therefore go away chearily and get you to heaven and when you come there be discouraged or discomforted if you can O my soul I see thou art pouring on sin on thy crimson sins and scarlet sins but I would have thee dwell on that crimson scarlet blood of Christ Oh it is the blood of sprinkling it speaks better things than the blood of Abel it cryes for mercy and pardon and refreshing and salvation thy sins cry Lord do me justice against such a soul but the blood of Christ hath another cry I am abased and humbled and I have answered all Methinks this should make thy heart leap for joy Oh the honey the sweet that we may suck out of this blood of Christ come lay to thy mouth and drink an hearty draught it is this spiritual wine that makes merry the heart of man and it is the voice of Christ to all his guests Eat O friends Cant. 5.1 drink yea drink abundantly O beloved SECT VIII Of calling on Jesus in that respect 8. LEt us call on Jesus or on God the Father in and through Jesus 1. We must pray that all these Transactions of Christ in his sufferings and death may be ours if we direct our prayers immediately to Jesus Christ let us tell him what anguish and pains he hath suffered for our sakes and let us complain against our selves Oh what shall we do who by our sins have so tormented our dearest Lord what contrition can be great enough what tears sufficiently expressive what hatred and detestation equal and commensurate to those sad and heavy sufferings of our Jesus And then let us pray that he would pity us and forgive us those sins wherewith we crucified him that he would bestow on us the vertue of his sufferings and death that his wounds might heal us his death might quicken us and his blood might cleanse us from all our spiritual filth of sin and lastly that he would assure us that his death is ours that he would perswade us That neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 39. nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature should be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. We must praise the Lord for all these sufferings of Christ Hath he indeed suffered all these punishments for us Oh then what shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits upon us what shall we do for him who hath done and suffered all these things but especially if we believe our part in the death of Christ in all the vertues benefits victories purchases and priviledges of his precious death oh then what manifold cause of thankfulness and praise is here be enlarged O my soul sound forth the praises of thy Christ tell all the world of that warmest love of Christ which flowed with his blood out of all his wounds into thy spirit tune thy heart-strings aright and keep consort with all the Angels of Heaven and all his Saints on earth sing that Psalm of John the Divine Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his sufferings and death looking unto Jesus is effective of this objects have an attractive power that do assimulate or make like unto them I have read of a woman that by fixing the strength of her imagination upon a Blackamore on the wall she brought forth a black and swarthy child And no question but there is a kind of spiritual-imaginative of power in faith to be like to Christ by looking on Christ come then and let us look on Christ and conform to Christ in this respect In this particular I shall examine these Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. What is the cause of this conformity 3. What are the means of this conformity as on our parts For the first wherein we must conform I answer we must conform to Christ
suffered 5. For what end he suffered 6. With what mind he suffered Every one of these will make some discoveries either of his Graces or of his gracious actings in our behalf and who can tell how far this very Look may work on us to change us and transform us into the very image of Jesus Christ 3. Let us humbly bewail our defect exorbitancy irregularity and inconformity either to the graces sufferings or death of Christ As thus Lo here the profound humility wonderful patience fervent love abundant mercy admirable meekness constant obedience of Jesus Christ Lo here the tortures torments agonies conflicts extream sufferings of Christ for the spiritual immortal good of the preciouâ— souls of his redeemed ones Lo here the death of Christ see how he bowed the head and gave up the Ghost why these are the particulars to which I should conform But Oh alas what a wide vast utter distance disproportion is there betwixt me and them Christ in his sufferings shined with graces his graces appeared in his sufferings like so many stars in a bright winter's night but how dim are the faint weak Graces in my Soul Christ in his sufferings endured much for me I know not how much by thine unknown sorrows and sufferings felt by thee ' but not distinctly known to us said the ancient Fathers of the Greek Church in their Liturgy have mercy upon us and save us his sorrows and sufferings were so great that some think it dangerous to define them but how poor how little are my sufferings for Jesus Christ I have not yet resisted unto blood and if I had what were this in comparison of his extream sufferings Christ in his sufferings died his passive obedience was unto death even to the death of the Cross he hung on the Cross till he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Rom. 6.10 he died unto sin once But alas how do I live in that for which he died To this day my sin hath not given up the Ghost to this day the death of Christ is not the death of my sin O my sin is not yet crucified the heart-blood of my sin is not yet let out Oh wo is me how unanswerable am I to Christ in all these respects 4. Let us quicken provoke and rouze up our Souls to this conformity let us set before them exciting Arguments ex gr The greatest glory that a Christian can attain to in this world is to have a resemblance and likeness to Jesus Christ Again the more like we are to Christ the more we are in the love of God and the better he is pleased with us It was his voice concerning his Son This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and for his sake if we are but like him he is also well pleased with us Again a likeness or resemblance of Christ is that which keeps Christ alive in the world As we say of a child that is like his Father This man cannot die so long as his Son is alive So we may say of Christians who resemble Christ that so long as they are in the world Christ cannot die he lives in them and he is no otherwise alive in this nether world than in the hearts of Gracious Christians that carry the picture and resemblance of him Again a likeness to Christ in his death will cause a likeness to Christ in his Glory If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6.5 we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection As it is betwixt the Graft and the Stock the Graft seeming dead with the Stock in the winter it revives with it in the Spring after the Winter's death it partakes of the Spring 's resurrection so it is betwixt Christ and us if with Christ we die to sin we shall with Christ be raised to Glory being conformed to him in his death we shall be also in his resurrection Thus let us quicken and provoke our souls to this conformity 5. Let us pray to God that he will make us conformable to Jesus Christ Is it Grace we want let us beg of him that of that fulness that is in Christ we may in our measure receive grace for grace Is it patience or joy in sufferings that we want let us beg of him that as he hath promised he will send us the comforter that so we may follow Christ chearfully from his cross to his crown from earth to heaven Is it mortification our souls pant after this indeed makes us most like to Christ in his sufferings and death why then pray we for this mortification But how should we pray I answer 1. Let us plainly acknowledge and heartily bemoan our selves in God's bosom for our sins our abominable sins 2. Let us confess our weakness feebleness and inability in our selves to subdue our sins we have no might may we say against this great company that come against us 2 Chr. 20.12 neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee 3. Let us put up our request begging help from heaven let us cry to God that vertue may come out of Christ's death to mortifie our Lusts to heal our Natures to stanch our bloody issues and that the Spirit may come into helps us in these works Rom. 8.13 for by the Spirit do we mortifie the deeds of the body 4. Let us press God with the merits of Christ and with his promises through Christ for he hath said Sin shall not have dominion over us for we are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.2 and Paul experienced it The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ hath freed me from the Law of sin and death 5. Let us praise God and thank God for the help already received if we find that we have gotten some power against sin that we have gotten more ability to oppose the lusts of the flesh that we are seldom overtaken with any breaking forth of it that we have been able to withstand some notable temptations to it that the force of it in us is in any measure abated that indeed and in truth vertue is gone out of the death of Christ Oh then return we praises to God let us triumph in God let us lead our captivity captive and sing new songs of praises unto God and even ride in triumph over our corruptions boasting our selves in God and setting up our Banners in the name of the most High and offering up humble and hearty thanks to our Father for the death of Christ and for the merit vertue and efficacy of it derived unto us and bestowed upon us 6. Let us frequently return to our looking up unto Jesus Christ to our believing in Christ as he was lifted up How we are to manage our Faith to draw down the vertue of Christ's death into our souls I have discovered before and let us now be in the practice of those rules certainly
obedience and death depends upon Christ's resurrection for then it was that Christ himself was justified and then he was justified as a common person representing us therein so that we were then justified with him and in him and we are said to be risen with him and to sit with him in heavenly places Burges one admirably judicious saith that justification is given to Christ's resurrection as a priviledge flowing from its efficient cause Indeed Christ's death is the meritorious cause of our justification but Christ's resurrection is in some sence saith he the efficient cause because by his rising again the Spirit of God doth make us capable of justification and thâ—n bestoweth it on us I know there is some difference amongst these Worthies but they all agree in this that the resurrection of Christ was for our justification and that by the resurrection of Christ all the merits of his death were made appliable unto us As there was a price and ransome to be paid by Christ for the redemption of man so it was necessary that the fruit effect and benefit of Christ's redemption should be applied and conferred now this work of application and actual collation of the fruit of Christ's death began to be in fieri upon the resurrection day but it was not then finished and perfected for to the consummation thereof the Ascension of Christ the Mission of the holy Ghost Apostolical preaching of the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles the Donation of Heavenly grace and Christ's Intercession at the right hand of God were very necessary 1 Cor. 15.17 O the benefit of Christ's resurrection as to our justification If Christ be not risen again ye are yet in your sins and your faith is in vain Remission of sin which is a part of our justification though purchased by Christ's death yet could not he applied to us or possibly be made ours without Christ's resurrection and and in this respect oh how desirable is it Eph. 2.5 6. 2. He rose again for our sanctification So the Apostle He hath quickened us together with Christ and hath raised up together with Christ Our first resurrection is from Christ's resurrection if you would know how you that were blind in heart uncircumcised in spirit utterly unacquainted with the life of God are now light in the Lord affecting heavenly things walking in righteousness it comes from this blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ we are quickened with Christ it is Christ's resurrection that raised our souls Rom. 6.11 being stark dead with such a resurrection as that they shall never die more Whence the Apostle Reckon your selves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are dead to sin and alive unto God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we may reckon thus for our selves that if we be in Christ there comes a vertue from Christ an effectual working of Christ by his Spirit into our hearts and it is such a work as will conform us to Christ dead and to Christ risen why reckon thus saith the Apostle go not by guess and say I hope it will be better with me than it hath been no no but reckon Rom. 6.4 conclude make account I must live to God I must live the life of grace for Christ is risen To the same purpose he speaks before Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Christ rose again to a new life and herein his resurrection differed from the resurrection of those others raised by him as of Lazarus Jairus Daughter the Widow of Naims Son for they were but raised to the same life which formerly they lived but Jesus Christ was raised up to a new life and according to this exâ—mplar we should now walk in newness of life this is the end of Christ's resurrection that we should be new creatures of new lives new principles new conversations he rose again for our sanctification 3. He rose again for our resurrection to eternal life Christ is the patern and pledg and cause of the resurrection of our bodies for since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15.21 22 even so in Christ shall all be made alive There is a vertue flowing from Christ to his Saints by which they shall be raised up at the latter day as there is a vertue flowing from the head to the members or from the root to the branches so those that are Christ's shall be raised up by Christ 1 John 5.28 29. Not but that all the wicked in the world shall be raised again by the power of Christ as he is a judg for all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and they shall come forth yet with this difference they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation In this respect the Saints shall have a peculiar resurrection and therefore they are called the Children of the resurrection because they shall obtain a better resurrection Luke 20.36 Heb. 11.35 as the Apostle calls it And is not Christ's resurrection desirable in this very respect if we should think these bodyes of ours being dust must never return from their dusts it might discourage but here is our hope Christ is risen and therefore we must rise it is the Apostles own argument against those that held there was no resurrection of the dead why saith the Apostle if there be no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.12 13 16 20. then is not Christ risen If the dead rise not then is not Christ raised But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep he argues plainly that Christs resurrection is the principal efficient cause of the resurrection of the just I am the resurrection and the life saith Christ i.e. I am the Author John 11.25 John 5.21 and worker of the resurrection to life As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will and hence it is that Christ is called a quickning Spirit Christ is the head and stock of all the Elect Christ is the Author procurer conveyor of life to all his off-spring by the communication of his Spirit Christ is a quickening Spirit quickening dead souls and quickening dead bodies 1 Cor. 15.45 the Author both of the first and second resurrection And is not this desireable He rose again for the assurance of our justification sanctification and salvation This is the reason why the Apostle useth these words to prove the resurrection of Christ I will give you the sure mercies of David Acts 13.34 none of Gods mercies had been sure to us if Christ had not risen again from the dead But now all is made sure his work of redemption being
fully finished the mercy which thereupon depended was now made certain and as the Apostle speaks sure unto all the seed Methinks a thought of this object in respect of it self and in respect of us should put our souls into a longing frame Rom. 4.16 is it not a desirable thing to see the King in his beauty were not the Daughters of Zion glad to go forth Cant. 3.11 and to behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his espousalls If Christ incarnate and in humane frailty was the desire of Nations how much more is Christ exalted and in his glory if it was Augustines great wish to have seen Christ in the flesh how should we but wish to see Christ as risen again from the dead he is altogether lovely or he is altogether desireable desireable in the womb Cant. 5.16 desireable in the cratch desireable on the Cross even when despised and numbred with thieves desireable in his resurrection yea all desirable yea above all desirable as risen exalted glorified in this consideration we cannot fathom the thousand thousand part of the worth and incomparable excellency of Jesus Christ Or if Christ's resurrection in it self will not stir up our lazy desires as it not desirable as in reference unto us what that he should rise again for our justification that by vertue of his resurrection thy soul should appear righteous before the judgment seat of God O what a ravishing word is that what a triumphing challeng Rom. 8.33 34. who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again O the stings that many have saying what shall I do when I dye and go down to the dust may not the Lord have something against me at the day of reckoning why no poor soul if thou art in Christ it is he that dyed yea rather that is risen again for thy justification by his resurrection he hath cleared all reckonings so that now who shall condemn not sin Christ hath took it away not the law Christ hath fulfilled it for us not Satan for if the Judge acquit us what can the Jaylor do O my soul that thy portion may be with theirs who hath right and title to this blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ But thou sayest again what is it to me if I be justified in Christ and yet my heart remain unholy and unsubdued to Christ it is true thou findest a wofull sinful nature within thee cross and contrary to holiness and leading thee dayly into captivity yet remember it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again and by vertue of his resurrection he hath given thee a new nature another nature which makes thee wrestle against sin and shall in time prevail over all sin But thou sayst again what if I be justified and sanctified if after death I shall not be raised to life why fear not O my soul for if Christ be risen thou shalt rise and rise to eternal life John 14.19 I am the resurrection and the life not only the resurrection but life is in him originally as water is in the fountain and from him it is derived to us because I live ye shall live also But thou sayst again O that I were assured of this many doubts and jealousies are upon me from day to day Sometimes indeed I have a comfortable hope of my justification Psal 88.14 sanctification salvation and sometimes again I am forced to cry Lord why caâ—test thou off my soul why hidest thou thy face from me O consider of the ends of Christ's resurrection was it not to give thee the sure mercies of David was it not to apply the merits of Christ's active and passive obedience and to bring them home to thy soul 1 Cor. 15.17 was it not to confirm and to ratifie thy faith else were it in vain O the Person of Christ and O the priviledges of Christ as being raised from the dead O my soul that thou wert on the wing in thy desires after Christ O that thy motions were as swift as the Eagles that hasted to eat O that feelingly thou knewest him and the power of his resurrection that thou wert resolved to give no sleep to thine eyes nor slumber to thine eye-lids until thou couldst say Christs resurrection is mine why Lord that I should long after vanities trifles toyes pleasures profits earthly contentments that I should long like some women with Child for a deal of baggage coles or ashes very lothsome food and yet that I should feel no pantings breathings hungerings thirstings after Christs resurrection to feed upon it and to be satisfied with it come here 's a blessed object here 's delights O stir up thy appetite suck and be satisfied drink ye drink abundantly O my beloved SECT IV. Of hoping in Jesus in that respect LEt us hope in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection Only remember I mean not a fluctuating wavering unsetled unestablished hope no no let us hope firmly surely fixedly let us come up to that plerophory or full assurance of hope that we may conclude comfortably and confidently Christs resurrection is ours and yet that our conclusion may not be rash but upon right grounds we may examine the firmness solidness substantialness of our hope in Christs resurrection by these following signs 1. If Christs resurrection be mine then is Christs death mine the fruits or effects of Christs death and resurrection cannot be severed if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6.5 we shall be in the likeness of his resurrection Mortification and vivification are twins of one and the same spirit depart from evil and do good Cease to do evil learn to do well Many may think they have their part in the first resurrection Psal 34.14 Isa 1.16 17. but can they prove their death unto sin as there cannot be a resurrection before a man dye so there cannot be a resurrection to a new life but there must be a separation of the soul from the body of sin what shall a man cleave to sin be wedded to sin yea shall a man like it love it live in it and yet say or imagine that Christs resurrection is his O be not deceived God is not mocked come scearch try examine hast thou any share in Christs passion knowest thou the fellowship of his sufferings art thou made conformable to his death that as he dyed for sin so thou dyest to sin if herein thou art at a stand peruse those Characters laid down in his sufferings and death the truth and growth of our mortification or of our death unto sin is discovered before 2. If Christs resurrection be mine then is Christ's Spirit mine yea then am I quickened by the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 11. If
have preached his resurrection oh no he himself would stay in person he himself would make it out by many infallible proofs that he was risen again he himself would by his own example learn us a lesson of love of meekness of patience in waiting after sufferings for the reward Methinks a few of these passages should set all our hearts on a flame of love we love earth and earthly things we dig into the veins of the earth for thick clay but if Christ be risen set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Oh if the love of Christ were but in us Colos 3.1 2 as the love of the world is in base worldlings it would make us wholly to despise this world it would make us to forget it as worldly love makes a man to forget his God Nay it would be so strong and ardent and rooted in our souls that we should not be able voluntary and freely to think on any thing else but Jesus Christ we should not then fear contempt or care for disgrace or the reproaches of men we should not then fear death 1 Cor. 15.55 57. or the grave or hell or devils but we should sing in triumph O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory now thanks be to God which giveth us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. SECT VII Of joying in Jesus in that respect 7. LEt us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection This is the great Gospel-duty we should rejoyce in the Lord and again rejoyce Phil. 4.4 yea rejoyce evermore A Christian estate should be a joyful and comfortable estate none have such cause of joy as the Children of Zion sing O daughter of Zion 1 Thes 5.16 shout O Jerusalem be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O daughter of Jerusalem Zach. 3.14 And why so a thousand reasons might be rendred but here is one a prime one Christ is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep A commemoration of Christ's resurrection hath ever been a means of rejoycing in God 1 Cor. 15.20 Some may object what is Christ's resurrection to me indeed if thou hast no part in Christ the resurrection of Christ is nothing at all to thee but if Christ be thine then art thou risen with him and in him then all he did was in thy name and for thy sake Others may object supposing Christ's resurrection mine what am I better how do not all the priviledges of Christ flow from the power and vertue of his resurrection as well as death tell me what is thy state what possibly can be the condition of thy soul wherein thou mayst not draw sweet from Christ's resurrection As 1 Pet. 3.21 1. Is thy conscience in trouble for sin the Apostle tells thee the answer of a good conscience towards God is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Rom. 4.25 2. Art thou afraid of condemnation the Apostle tells thee he was delivered for our offences and he was raised again for our justification 1 Pet. 1.3 3. Dost thou question thy regeneration the Apostle tells thee he hath begotten us again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4. Art thou distressed persecuted troubled on every side the Apostle tells thee wherein now consists thy confidence comfort courage to wit in the life of Christ in the resurrection of Christ 2 Cor. 4.10 11. We alwayes bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our body for we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh And thus Beza interprets those following words knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus 14. i.e. unto a civil resurrection from our troubles Paul was imprisoned and in part martyred but by the vertue of Christ's resurrection he foresaw his enlargement And this interpretation Beza grounds on the word following and foregoing wherein Paul compares his persecutions to a death and his preservation from them to a life as he had done before also chap. 1. v. 9 10. 5. Art thou afraid of falling off or of falling away why remember that the immutable force and perpetuity of the new covenant is secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Isa 55.3 I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David this the Apostle applies to the resurrection of Christ as the bottoming of that sure covenant and as concerning that he raised him up from the dead he said on this wise I will give you the sure mercies of David Act. 13.34 6. Art thou afraid of death hell and the power of the grave why now remember that Christ is risen from the dead and by his resurrection death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.55 57. so that now thou mayst sing O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory now thanks be to God which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ It is the voyce of Christ thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Isa 26.19 awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead David was so lifted up with this resurrection Psal 16.9 10. that he crys it out therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Job 19.23 24 25 26 27. But especially Job was so exceedingly transported with this that he breaks out into these extasies O that my words were now written O that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms shall destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me No man ever since Christ did speak more clearly of Christ's resurrection and his own than Job did here before Christ Observe in it O my soul Job's wish and the matter wished his wish was that certain words which had been cordial to him might remain to memory and this wish hath three wishes in one 1. That they might be written 2. That they might be registred in a book enrolled upon record as publick instruments judicial proceedings or whatsoever is most authentical 3. That they might be engraven in stone and in the hardest stone the rock records might last long
confusions distractions despondences staggering and sinking terrors Mat. 11.28 it will find it something yea it will look on it as a glorious work to discover but the morning Star through so much darkness any thing of life in such a valley and shadow of death 3. The understanding hath yet some brighter believing beams it confidently closeth with this truth that it is the will of the Lord that he should come and live and believe and lay hold on Christ it apprehends the particular designs of mercy to him and doth really principle the soul with this that God doth particularly call invite and bid him come to Christ the Fountain of life for life Now the understanding takes in general Gospel-calls in particular to himself It is my poor languishing soul which the Lord speaks to when he sayes come to me all yea that are weary and I will give you rest Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Surely this is a great work when set home by the Lord that the soul acts in its addresses to Christ in the strength of a particular call from God 2. And now the answer to this call is wrought up in the renewed will as thus 1. The will summons all its confidences and calls them off from every other bottom to bestow them wholly upon Christ and this consists in our voluntary renouncing of all other helps excepting Jesus Christ alone now the soul sayes to Idols Get ye hence Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses neither will we say any more to the works of our hands ye are our Gods Ashur shall not save us Not only cannot but shall not save us now as the soul is dissatisfied in Judgment as to the resting on any thing but Christ alone so the heart and will is disaffected to all other helps but Christ alone now it renounceth its own righteousness and worthyness not only because of their inability to save but mainly because their glory is swallowed up in that unmatchable excellency which appears in the way of life and salvation by Jesus Christ It calls home dependance from every other object 2. Hereupon there is a willing and chearfull receiving of Christ and resignation of our selves to his actual dispose to quicken us and save us in his own way A great part of the answer of Faith to the call of Christ lyes in this for as Faith sees life and salvation in the hands of Christ so it considers it to be given forth in the methods of Christ and so believing lyes not only in assent but consent of heart John 1 1â— that Christ shall save us in his own way this is called A receiving of Christ As many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God Many a soul would be saved by Christ that sticks and boggles at his methods they will not pass to happiness by holiness nor set him up as a King and Lord whom they could consent to set up as a Saviour Oh but now Christ that stood at the door and knocked Rev. 3.10 is received in consent hath made up the match and the door is opened that never shall be shut again 3. Upon this follows the souls resting and relying the souls confidence and dependance upon Jesus Christ for life and for salvation this closeth up the whole business of believing unto righteousness those various expressions used in Scripture of committing our way and selves to God of casting our care upon God of rolling our selves on him of trusting in him of hoping in his mercy c. wrapt up faith in this affiance dependance not without some mixture of confidence and resolved resting upon Jesus Christ a clear beholding of God in Christ and of Christ in the promises doth present such variety and fulness of Arguments to bear up hope and affiance that the heart is resolved and so resolved that we commit our selves and give our souls in charge to Christ I know whom I have believed 1 Pet. 4.19 2 Tim. 1.12 and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day 4. The upshot of all is this that the same close which the soul makes in believing with Jesus Christ as to justification and righteousness is not fruitless to this effect of conveying life and vertue from Jesus Christ as to grace and holiness for that union which then and thereby comes to be enjoyned with Christ is such an union as is fruitful in begetting a quickening power and principle in the heart and this is that which we ordinarily intend by saying saving faith to be operative James 2.16 that faith which brings forth nothing of holiness what is it but a dead faith As the body without the Spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also Justification and sanctification are twins of a birth and hence it is that vivification which is one part of sanctification is wrought in the soul after the self-same manner As first the understanding is illighttened 2. The will is changed 3. All the Affections are renewed 4. The internals being quickened there ensueth the renewing of the body with the outward actions life and conversation And now is fulfilled that saying of Christ in a spiritual sense John 5.25 The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Now is the soul vivified now it begins to live the life of God now it feels the power of Christ's resurrection and is made conformable to it And immediately upon this joy is made in heaven by the Angels Luke 15.24 God himself applauding it For this my Son was dead and is alive he was lost and is found Thus is the state of vivification wrought I know it is not in all men after one manner for every circumstance the methods of God are exceeding various and we cannot limit the holy one of Israel I have sometimes concerning this desired the communication of other thoughts whom I looked upon as such who had more than ordinary communication with Christ's Spirit and from one of such I received this answer I must profess to you I have in all my speculations in divinity found dissatisfaction in the writings of men in nothing more than is the work of clear and distinct conceptions concerning regeneration which yet is of such a Cardinal importance is that the great doors of heaven move upon the hinges of it the Lord enlighten us more for we see but in part and prophesie but in part For the third question what are the means of this conformity or vivification which we must use on our parts I shall answer herein both to the state and growth of our vivification As 1. Wait and Attend upon God in the ministry of the word this is a means whereby Christ ordinarily effecteth
dignity of Worship communicated to him as God and man And hence Divines usually make this one ingredient of Christ's sitting at the right hand of God viz. That Christ God and Man is the object of Divine adoration O it is a great thing and admirable and full of wonder that the man Christ should sit above at God 's right hand and be adored of Angels and Archangels Chry. Hom. 5 in Heb. Before this was the grace of Union conferred on Jesus and so he was adored before he suffered but after he had humbled himself and was made obedient unto death even to the death of the Cross then yea and therefore God highly exalted him and gave him a Name Phil. 2.8 9 10 11. which is above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father He was Lord before in that he is the Son of God but now he is Lord again by vertue of his humiliation and Session at God's right hand Trouble not your selves with their objection who say That if adoration be due to Christ as God and man that then the humane nature is to be adored the Person adored is man but the humanity it self is not the proper object of that Worship There is a difference betwixt the concrete and the abstract though the man Christ be God yet his manhood is not God and by consequence not to be worshipped with that worship which is properly and essentially Divine Certainly if adoration agree to the humanity of Christ then may his humanity help and save us but the humanity of Christ cannot help and Save us because omnis actio est suppositi whereas the humane nature of Christ is not suppositum a subsistance or personal being at all 3. That he might intercede for his Saints Heb. 8.1 2. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the Summe we have such an high Priest who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens and a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not men he is set on the right hand of God as an high Priest or Minister to intercede for us For as Christ is not entred into the holy Place made with hands which are the Figures of the true Heb. 9.24 but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us This appearing is an expression borrowed from the custome of human Courts for as in them when the Plaintiff or Defendant is called their Attorney appeareth in their names so when we are summoned by the justice of God to answer the complaints which it preferreth against us we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous John 2.1 Exod. 28.9 10 11 12. and he standeth up and appeareth for us or it may be this appearing hath a respect to the manner of high Priests in the time of the Law for as they used to go into the most holy place with the names of the Children of Israel written in precious stones for a remembrance of them that they might remember them to God in their Prayers so Jesus Christ being gone up to Heaven he there presents to his Father the Names of all his chosen and he remembers them to his Father in his Intercessions Certainly Christ is not gone to Heaven and advanced to the right hand of God only to live in eternal joy himself but also to procure happiness for his Saints it is to excellent purpose and to the great good of his Church that he sits at the right hand of his Father for thereby he governs and protects his people and he continually executes the Office of his Priesthood presenting himself and the sacrifice of himself and the infinite merit of that sacrifice before the eyes of his Father in their behalf 4. That true Believers may assuredly hope by vertue of Christs Session to sit themselves in the Kingdom of Glory Heb. 1.5 It is true that Christ and only Christ hath his seat at the right hand of God to which of the Saints or of the Angels did he ever say sit thou at my right hand It is a prerogative above all Creatures and yet there is something near it given to the Saints Rev. 3.21 for him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also am set down with my Father in his Throne There is a proportion though with an inequality we must sit on Christ's Throne as he sits on his Fathers Throne Christ only sits at the right hand of God but the Saints are to sit at the right hand of Christ Psal 45.9 and so the Psalmist speaks upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir It is enough to greaten the Spirits of Saints how should they tread on earth and contemn the World when they consider that one day they shall judg the World 1 Cor. 6.2 do you not know that the Saints shall judg the World nay 2 Tim. 2.12 when they consider that one day they shall reign with Christ if ye suffer with him ye shall reign with him Christ sitting in Heaven is a very Figure of us Christ's person is the great model and first draught of all that shall be done to his Body the Saints therefore he is said to be the Captain of our Salvation that leads us on he is said to be our fore-runner into Glory he breaks the clouds first he appears first before God he sits down first and is glorified first and then we follow Christ wears the Crown in Heaven as our King and he is united and marryed to God as our proxy And yet there is another ground of hope not only shall we sit with Christ in Glory but even now do we sit with him in Glory Christ is not only gone to heaven to prepare a place for us but he sits in Heaven in our room and God looks on him as the great picture of all that body whereof he is Head and he delights himself in seeing them all Glorified as in his Son To this purpose the Saints are said to sit down with Christ at very present Ephes 2.6 he hath made us to sit together with him in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Christ in our nature is now exalted this is that admirable thing which carried up Chrysostom into an extasie that the same nature of which God said dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return should now sit in Heaven at God's right hand but not only the human nature but Christ in person sits there as a common person in our stead he is in his Throne and we sit with him in supercelestial places O what structures and pillars of hope are raised up here 5. That he might defend
alledge that this priviledge was granted to Peter as an Apostle but we say that if it was granted to Peter as an Apostle then it was common to Peter and Judas in that both were Apostles They alledge further that Christ prayes not for the absolute perseverance of Believers but after a sort and upon condition But we say the Prayer of Christ is certain and not suspended in this Prayer his desire is not for Peter that would presevere but his desire is for Peter that he should persevere the object of the thing for which Christ prayes is distinct from the thing it self prayed for 9. That we might have the salvation of our souls in the day of Jesus John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they might behold my glory Why this is the main end in respect of us our glory and indeed herein is the main piece of our glory to behold this glory Oh to see the Lord Jesus Christ glorified as he shall be glorified must be a glorious thing What is it to see his glory but to behold the lustre of his Divinity through his humanity In this respect our very eyes shall come to see God as much as is possible for any creature to see him we may be sure God shall appear through the humanity of Christ as much as is possible for the Divinity to appear in a creature and therefore Men and Angels will be continually viewing of Christ I know there is another glory of Christ which the Father will put upon him Because he humbled himself therefore God will exalt him Rev. 14.4 and give him a name above every name and we shall see him in this glory O the ravishing sight of Saints Christ is so lovely that the Saints cannot leave but they must and will follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes there shall be no moment to all eternity wherein Christ shall be out of sight to so many thousand thousands of Saints now this is the glory of the Saints above as a Queen that sees the Prince in his glory she delights in it because it is her glory so the Church when she shall see Christ her Husband in his glory she shall rejoyce in it because she looks upon it as her own Is not this a blessed end of Christ's intercession why hither tend all the rest all the other ends end in this and for this above all Christ intercedes to his Father Father Cant. 3.11 I would have my Saints with me O that all the daughters of Zion may behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith thou hast crowned him in the day of his Espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart Only one Question and I have done how should I set my faith on work to act on Christ's intercession for these ends I answer 1. Faith must perswade it self that here is a vertue in Christ's intercession Certainly every passage and acting of Christ hath its efficacy and therefore there is vertue in this it is full of juyce it hath a strong influence in it 2. Faith must consider that it is the design of God and the intendment of Christ that this intercession should be for the good of those that are given to Christ O there 's enough in Christ enough in Christ's intercession to convey communion the Spirit protection free access to the Throne of Grace a Spirit of prayer pardon of sins continuance in grace salvation of souls to the Saints and people of God through all the world and this is the design of God that Christ's intercession should be as the fountain whence all these streams must run and be conveyed unto us 3. Faith must act dependantly upon the intercession of Christ for these very ends this is the very nature of Faith it relyes upon God in Christ and upon all the actings of Christ and upon all the promises of Christ so then Is there a desirable end in Christ's intercession which we aim at O let us act our Faith dependantly let us rely stay or lean upon Christ to that same end let us roul our selves or cast our selves upon the very intercession of Jesus Christ Saying O my Christ there is enough in thee and in this glorious intercession of thine and therefore there will I stick and abide for ever 4. Faith must ever and anon be trying improving wrestling with God that vertue may go out of Christ's intercession into our hearts I have heard Lord that there is an Office erected in heaven that Christ as Priest should be ever praying and interceding for his people O that I may feel the efficacy of Christ's intercession am I now in prayer O that I could feel in this prayer the warmth and heat and spiritual fire which usually falls down from Christ's intercession into the hearts of his Lord warm my spirit in this duty give me the kisses of thy mouth O that I may now have communion with thee thy Spirit upon me thy protection over me O that my pardon may be sealed my grace confirmed my soul saved in the day of Jesus In this method O my soul follow on and who knows but God may appear e're thou art aware howsoever be thou in the use of the means and leave the issue with God SECT VI. Of loving Jesus in that Respect 6. LEt us love Jesus as carrying on this great work of our salvation in his intercession Now two things more especially will excite our love 1. Christ's love to us 2. Our propriety in Christ For the first many acts of Christ's love have appeared before and every one is sufficient to draw our loves to him again As 1. He had an eternal love to man he feasted himself on the thoughts of love delight and free-grace to man from all eternity since God was God O boundless duration the Lord Jesus in a manner was loving and longing for the dawning of the day of the Creation he was as it were with child of infinite love to man before he made the world Some observe that the first words which ever Christ wrote were Love to Believers and these were written with glory for it was before gold was and they were written upon his bosom for then other books were not 2. In the beginning of time he loved man above all creatures for after he had made them all he then speaks as he never did before Let us make man in our image after our likeness Gen. 1.26 and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and though man at that very instant unmade himself by sins Christ's love yet was not broken off but held forth in a promise till the day of performance The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and in thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed 3. In the fulness of time his
and destroys the sense as the Sun by its brightness darkens the eye and other things by mighty sounds bring deafness to the ear Paul indeed had a vision of glory but because his faculties were not glorified he was he knew not how whether in the body or out of the body whether alive or dead he did not know certainly the sight of the glory of the other world would amaze distract and destroy us if we had a sight of it as now we are but in heaven the eye shall have great pleasure in beholding the brightest light because it shall be advanced to the highest pitch of strength that may be 2. As the eye shall be glorified so it shall act in a glorified body and this will make the sight of the glory of Christ in stead of hurting us to leave upon us a more sweet enlivening and powerful impression By this means all the impediments that hinder the conveyance of divine influences from that heavenly object will be removed To illustrate this let the most excellent sight be set before a man that is defective in his bodily state and it doth not take him what should a sick man do with such things he makes nothing of the most pleasant gardens orchards buildings nor of the most glorious sights that are when he is sick they are but sick things to him and of none effect but in heaven the body shall be glorified and stript of all corruptions and imperfections so that there shall be no bar unto the influences of the glory of Christ which shall there be seen 3. As there shall be a glorified eye acting in a glorified body so it shall be acted by a glorified Spirit the eye is but the organ or instrument of sight and without the spirit would conveigh no more then a glass doth it is the Spirit of a man that gives life to vision it is the Spirit of a man that discovers things and sets them forth in their worth vertues ends now in heaven the spirit of men shall be glorified and enabled to perform all those offices in perfection so that when a man shall look on the man Christ Jesus by vertue of a glorified spirit he shall see more know more taste more than any other can As a man of understanding when he looks on a diamond or a wedge of gold he hath other apprehensions of it and a further touch upon his spirit then a beast or a child in a cradle hath so where the sight of the eye is acted by a glorified mind it takes in more from the sight of every thing which is to be seen unexpressibly more then what can be done here by the most sanctified Spirit in the World Now in these respects Christ's glorified body though it be the brightest visible thing in the Heaven of Heavens yet may it be the object of the eye of Saints for they shall have glorified eyes in glorified bodies and acted by their glorified spirits 2. There is a mental vision a sight of Christ by the eyes of our understandings and surely this exceeds the former the eye of the body is only on the body of Christ but the eye of the soul is on the body and soul on the Humanity and Deity of Jesus Christ This is the very top of heaven when Saints shall be illightned with a clear and glorious sight of Christ as God Divines usually call it Beatifical vision Quest But how shall Saints behold the glorious Essence or God-head of Christ Answ 1. Some say Christ as God or the God-head of Christ shall be known by the Humanity of Christ such a lustre of his Deity shall shine through his humanity as that thereby and by no other means shall the Essential glory of Christ appear 2. Others say That besides the Humanity of Christ there shall be a species representing the Divine Essence of Christ and a light of glory elevating the understanding by a Supernatural strength and that thereby the glorious Essence of Christ shall be discovered 3. Others say That the Divine Essence shall be represented to the glorified understanding not by Christs humanity nor by any species but immediately by it self yet they also require a light of glory to elevate and fortifie the understanding by reason of its weakness and infinite disproportion and distance from the incomprehensible Deity 4. Others hold that to the clear vision of Christ as God there is not required a sight of Christ's humanity as the first suppose nor a species representing the Divine Essence as the second suppose nor any created light elevating the understanding as the third suppose but only a change of the natural order of knowing It is sufficient say they that the Divine Essence be immediately represented to a created understanding which though it cannot be done according to the order of nature as experience tells us for so we conceive things as first having passed the sense and imagination yet it may be done according to the order of Divine grace I shall not enter into these Scholastical disputes 1 Cor. 13.12 Rev. 22.4 it is enough for a sober man to know that in heaven we shall see him face to face his Servants shall serve him and they shall see his face Quest His face what 's that I answer Answ 1. They shall see Christ as God of the same Essence with the Father and the holy Ghost and yet a distinct Person from them both they shall see the Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity they shall see how the Son is begotten of the Father and how the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son they shall see the difference between the generation of the Son and procession of the Spirit These are mysteries in which we are blind and know very little or nothing but in seeing his face we shall see all these 2. They shall see Christ at their first being or principle of all the good that is in the World they shall see how all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made they shall see all the good in the creature as flowing from Christ John 1.3 and as contained in the absolute perfection of Christ's Divine Nature they shall see in one Christ all the excellencies of all the creatures united which is indeed to see him in his eminency if there be any beauty riches honour goodness in any creature that is eminently transcendently and originally in Christ and that shall be seen 3. They shall see Christ in all his ways counsels decrees executions transactions from everlasting to everlasting that great business of Election and Reprobation will then be discovered it is an expression of Augustine They shall then see the reason why one is Elected and another Reprobated why one is rich and another poor they shall then see all the works that ever God did or that ever God will do it is not yet Six thousand years since
Cant. 8.14 Many prayers are in the bowels of this as that Christ when he comes may bid us welcome and give us a place on his Throne on his right hand and pronounce us blessed and take us to himself to live with himself in eternal glory c. But I mention onely this general and let each soul expatiate on the rest 2. Let us praise him for his coming and for all his actings at his coming Our engagement to Christ even for this transaction is so great that we can never enough extol his Name at that day the books shall be opened and why not the book of our engagements to Jesus Christ if it must be opened I can surely tell you it is written full the page and margent both within and without is written full it 's an huge book of many volumes O then let our hearts be full of praises let us joyn with those blessed Elders that fell down before the Lamb and sung Worthy it the Lamb that was slain to receive power Rev. 5.12 and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Yea let us joyn with all those creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the Sea whom John heard saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth on the throne Ver. 13. and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Amen SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LET us conform to Jesus as coming again to judge the World Looking to Jesus contains this when the Apostle would perswade Christians to patience under the cross he lays down first the cloud of witnesses all the Martyrs of the Church of Christ and secondly Jesus Christ himself as of more vertue and power than all the rest the Martyrs suffered much but Christ endured more than they all and therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 12.2 look unto Jesus surely he is the best exemplar the chief pattern to whom in all his transactions we may in some way or other conform But how should we conform to Christ in this respect I Answer 1. Christ will in his time prepare for judgment Oh let us at all times prepare for his judging of us doth it not concern us to prepare for him as well as it concerns him to prepare for us if Christ come and find us careless negligent unprepared what will become of us the very thought of Christ's sudden coming to judgment might well put us into a waiting watching posture that we might be still in readiness it cannot be long and alas what is a little time when it is gone how quickly shall we be in another World and our souls receive their particular judgments and so wait till our bodies be raised and judged to the same condition or salvation it is not an hundred years in all likelyhood till every soul of us shall be in heaven or hell it may be within a year or two or ten or thereabouts the greatest part of this congregation will be in Heaven or Hell and I beseech you what is a year or two or ten what is an hundred or a thousand years to the dayes of eternity how speedily is this gone and how endless is that time or eternity that is come is it not high time then to prepare our lamps to trim our souls to watch and fast and pray and meditate and to remember that for all our deeds good or evill God will bring us to Judgment herein is our Conformity to Christ's coming before he comes he prepares for us oh let us against his coming prepare for him 2. Christ at his coming will summon all his Saints to arise to ascend and to come to him in the clouds O let us summon our souls to arise to ascend and to go to Christ in the Heavens What Christ will do really at that day let us do spiritually on this day It was the prodigal's saying I will arise and go to my Father and say unto him Luk. 15.18 We are naturally sluggish we lye in a bed of sin and security and we are loath to arise to ascend and to go to God Oh then let us call upon our own souls Awake awake Deborah why art thou so heavy O my soul let us stir up our spirits consciences wills affections every day let us wind them up as a man doth his Watch that it may be in a continual motion Alas alas we had need to be continually stirring up the gifts and graces that are in us it is the Lords pleasure that we should daily come to him he would have us on the wing of Prayer and on the wing of Meditation and on the wing of Faith he would have us to be still arising ascending and mounting up in divine contemplation to his Majesty And is it not our duty and the Saints disposition to be thus Whethersoever the dead carcass is thither will the Eagles resort Matth. 24.28 if Christ be in Heaven where should we be but in Heaven with him For where your Treasure is there will your hearts be also Oh that every morning and every evening at least our hearts would arise ascend and go to Christ in the Heavens 3. Christ will at last judge all our souls and judge all the wicked to eternal flames oh let us judge our selves that we may not be judged of the Lord in that sad Judgment If we would judge our selves saith the Apostle we should not be judged 1 Cor. 11.31 Good reason we have to conform to Christ in this point or otherwise how should we escape the judgment of Christ at the last day but in what manner should we judge our selves I answer 1. We must search out our sins 2. We must confess them before the Lord. 3. We must condemn our selves or pass a sentence against our own souls 4. We must plead pardon and cry mightily to God in Christ for the remission of all those sins whereof we have judged our selves and condemned our selves 1. We must search out our sins Winnow your selves O people not worthy to be beloved Zeph. 2.1 There should be a strict scrutiny to find out all the prophaness of our hearts and lives all our sins against light and love and checks and vows winnow your selves If you will not I pronounce to you from the eternal God that ere long the Lord will come in the Clouds and then will he open the black Book wherein all your sins are written he will search Jerusalem with candles he will come with a Sword in his hand to search out all secure sinners every where and then will all your sins be discovered to all the World O that we would prevent this by our search and scrutining a forehand 2. We must confess our sins before the Lord we must spread them before the Lord as Hezekiah did his letter onely in our confessions observe these rules As 1. Our confession must be full of sorrow Psal 38.18 I